The Rev. Robert Lundquist Thanksgiving 11/24/05 St Paul’s, Ft Collins

Deuteronomy 8:1-3, 6-10 - Online Text -

This is the day when I think of folks across our nation gathering once a year to do what we liturgical Christians do every week whenever we gather around God’s holy table: eucharist is from the Greek word for “thanksgiving.” We give thanks around God’s table. We feast upon the body and blood of Christ rather than on a turkey. Thankfulness is key to our faith.

The thread of thankfulness goes back to our very roots. In Deuteronomy we’re commanded to “Remember the long way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness…” To thank is to remember in a very real way. We cannot give thanks for what we don’t remember.

Likewise, to obey is to believe. “Therefore keep the commandments of the LORD your God, by walking in his ways and by fearing him…” And it is in thanking and obeying that the blessings are promised. Our relationship with our Creator is made real through thanking and obeying.

In the letter of James we hear a somewhat surprising claim: “In fulfillment of his own purpose [the Father of lights] gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” Where have you heard this terminology of “first fruits” before? The tithe is the “first fruits” of our substance, the setting aside of 10% of our resources for God’s work in the world. Here we are described as God’s tithe, set aside to do God’s work in creation! The Word has been implanted in us, the word that has the power to save our souls. Our faithfulness is anticipated by our Creator – “… be doers of the word, and not merely hearers…” You see, thankfulness and action are forever linked in the missive to us.

Take a look at the prayer attributed to St Francis:

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

Many of us are familiar with this prayer, often used in petitions for peace. Without taking anything away from its beauty, I want to look at the first four words: Lord, make us instruments. Let ourselves be used by you, O God. Allow us to be put to the tasks of your choosing. We thus empty ourselves in order to accept the Divine guiding hand, to be utilized by the Artisan in the spirit of thanksgiving.

In the Gospel of Matthew we hear from Jesus on the Mount, bidding us release our anxiety and fretful care. “Do not worry,” reiterates Jesus. Allow God to take care of all that needlessly concerns you – how you’ll be fed and clothed. “Let go and let God,” as is said by those in the 12 steps of recovery. Our only task? To strive for the Kingdom and for God’s righteousness. Everything else will be given.

Does the hammer know what it is building? Does the paintbrush realize what is being created with its bristles? Does the shovel comprehend its purpose? The miracle is that we can know and marvel, giving thanks for the fulfillment of being a part of God’s design when we become instruments. We can appreciate the beauty, the genius, and the wit of God in Creation. We can see the Divine compassion, mercy and love around and within us. And we are able to give thanks.

Thank you, God – for blessing, for calling, and for shaping us all! AMEN

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