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Thanksgiving Day, while not on our Calendar as a religious Holiday, without a doubt is truly one of deep religious significance. Our Presidents over the years have issued Proclamations extolling the faith and dedication of the pilgrims and exhorting all Americans to be mindful of the many blessings God has given to our Great Country. It is a day, which brings God into sharper focus, and all Americans will give thanks to God, even momentarily. However, there are 364 other days in the year. Should we not offer our gratitude to God each and every day? To be sure, the dedicated Christian does, and the gratitude is expressed by so many acts of kindness, and oftentimes mercy. Did you know that the Divine Liturgy we celebrate every Sunday is a service of thanks? It is called the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The word Eucharist is the Greek word "Eucaristw." We praise God, we bless Him and we thank Him, for the supreme privilege of uniting ourselves with Him, by receiving His Body and Blood in communion. So, this coming Thursday, we shall more specifically express our gratitude to God. If we are to give thanks in depth, as we ought to, this must be done, and often, as a result of a living faith. As we so easily may observe, we can ascertain, that to give thanks is not easy, nor automatic. For instance, we have so many people, whose cup is too full. They enjoy every material blessing obtainable, as well as their robustness of mind and spirit. Expressing thanks to God hardly ever enters the picture. They are too busy living, to pause and give thanks, and of course, they shun like the plague any thoughts of dying. On the other hand there are those, who find their cup empty, who also find it hard to offer their gratitude. These people know the meaning of loneliness, of isolation and of pain. Their life has been narrowed into a tiny antiseptic world of the hospital bed, pills, intravenous feedings, doctor's visits, and perhaps an occasional stroll down the hospital corridor. The cup is empty for many bereaved who have lost a loved one, as also for those overburdened with life's problems. They react with anger and animosity, simply because the Christian spirit has not sprouted in their hearts. So, whether our cup is too full, or empty, the fact remains that people somehow find it difficult to give thanks; but, we must give thanks, because thanksgiving is a tonic for the spirit. Nothing tones up the spirit, or replenishes body energy like the grace, which God grants to believers. St. John the Chrysostom, one of the greatest Fathers of our Church, Patriarch of Constantinople during the end of the 4th Century was exiled 5 times in the wilderness of Asia Minor. His favorite phrase through thick and thin was: "Glory be to God for all things!" Fortunate is the Christian, who could repeat this phrase when he or she is faced with a torrential problem. The Apostle of Nations St. Paul was afflicted by an illness not specified, but he described it as "a thorn in the flesh." This description was enough to know that he was suffering. He asked God to heal him and the Lord answered: "My Grace is sufficient for you." In reply, St. Paul says: "I become strong through my infirmity." And he went on to become the greatest missionary of all time. You remember that the Hebrews spent 40 years in the desert after their flight from Egypt They oftentimes felt that their cup was empty. There was a time when they couldn't find water, and all of a sudden a spring of water gushed forth. This was symbolic of God's care, and providing the needs of humans. We are not always freed from our surroundings, but there is always God's help within them. Gratitude, I think, is a test for trust. Do we implicitly trust God when we are baffled by the events of this world, or, when we are wracked by pain or disease, or, when misfortune of another kind befalls us? There is that notable example of Job in the Old Testament, whose faith was unshakable in God, even though from the richest person in the area, with 10 wonderful children, lost all his fortune, and lived to see his children die, one by one. In answer to those, who mocked him for his faith, he answered: "Though the Lord slay me, yet, will I trust Him. The Lord gave, and the Lord took away, blessed by the Name of God forever!" Job's thanksgiving was his measure of trust in God. Incidentally, the last hymn sung during our Divine Liturgy are the very words of job. Our Pilgrim fathers, who planted the first seed of thanksgiving to God, buried half of their number during the first winter. On top of the graves they sowed corn, so that the Indians would not know how many pilgrims perished. In spite of such bitter conditions, they went into the forest to find game, and thereby thanked God for their meager blessings. It was a measure of their trust in God, and when that little Mayflower made the trip back to England, there wasn't a single Pilgrim who chose to return. In spite of all their adversities, their faith kept them strong, and as a result they were able to be anchored to their new land. Giving thanks is a sign of saintliness. We saw this in so many of the Christian martyrs, commencing from the first martyr, St. Stephen. He was stoned to death, three years after the Lord ascended into Heaven, simply because he publicly defended his Christian Faith. Before he died from his multiple wounds, he directed his eyes toward Heaven, forgiving those who cast their stones, and said: "Lord, do not count this sin against them." St. Paul was stoned, dragged out of cities, shipwrecked on the sea; describing his life, he said, that he faced fears from without and within! But, throughout his letters, in spite of his tremendous trials and tribulations, his recurring note is, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God!" (1 Thessalonians 5:18) But, the direct inspiration from all His followers, down through the ages, came from our Lord Jesus, Who came to this world to make all things new. It was the Lord, Who taught verbally, but also through example. On the eve of His being apprehended to be tried as a common criminal, He held His last supper with His Disciples. Raising the cup, He gave thanks, although the raising of that cup meant, the ripping through the flesh of His hands, the spear thrust in His side, the crown of thorns, and the blood and sweat dropping from His face in the blistering sun, and of course giving up the spirit, at the age of 33. Nonetheless, He took that cup and gave thanks, and in doing so, He was most like God, for indeed, He was the Son of God. Yes, thanksgiving is not only a word --- it is a virtue, that should be deeply imbedded in everyone's soul for all time, regardless of what condition one is in, during the temporary stay we have upon this earth. Like St. Paul, we should constantly repeat with unshakable faith: "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God. May we all enjoy the true fruits of the Blessed Thanksgiving Day. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas |
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