The Hebrews had seen many miracles from God’s gracious hand. They had been forged as a people, redeemed from Pharaoh and liberated through the Red Sea. God fed them with manna and quenched their thirst with water from a rock. He led them with a cloud by day and by fire at night. Despite all the manifestations of God’s goodness they still murmured and complained throughout the journey. This sin cost many their lives.
I’ve discovered that no matter what level you have attained in your life it is easy to focus on the negative. I always thought I would be happy if I ever got on television. I discovered that being on TV wasn’t the secret to happiness. Rather it just brought more problems and difficulties and work into my life. It is easy to be overwhelmed by it all and want to give up. Yes, there is a certain level of joy that comes from having achieved this, but it is no magic formula to contentment. As I said before, it isn’t the level of success or the circumstances that bring true happiness. Success has spoiled many. Some have the charisma but not the character to handle prosperity. Higher levels will bring new devils and will call you to be even more responsible when it comes to gratitude and relying on God.
Rather it is the will of God for us to give thanks “in” (not for) all circumstances. (1 Th. 5:18) There are problems and difficulties at whatever level you are at in life. The way to find contentment is to focus on the good things and to give God thanks for them no matter the difficulties. This is the mark of a true champion. Like Paul and Silas chained in the darkness of a prison cell, they sing at the midnight hour. God knows how to break open any locked door and make you a witness as you give thanks. Sometimes you just have to stir yourself up to give thanks. You usually won’t feel like it. You have to rise above your feelings. The first fruits of our prayer life should be dedicated to thanksgiving.
My Mom died back in August. She was 90 years old and died from complications resulting from aortic valve heart surgery. A few months after my Mom died I was able to stay in her quiet, empty house for a few weeks before we sold it. It was a time to help me grieve and relive some pleasant memories. I had lived there with my Mom and Dad for some thirty years on and off. I had so many gracious memories of growing up there. That house was my home and a place I loved to come back to in order to rest and celebrate the holidays.
I stood in my mother’s now empty bedroom and memories of her flooded my mind. In many ways being in the house and especially her bedroom was my connection to her presence. As I stood there I thought, “How can I leave this house? It is my connection to my Mom and Dad and so many past memories.” Then I heard within, “Instead of focusing on the past, concentrate on your future.” Then I thought, “I don’t want to, the past was so good.” As I thought that I heard, “The future will be even better!” This is hope. We don’t need to be remain mired in the past, but believe the future holds good things for us.
Then I thought, “How can I move forward from the past?” Immediately I thought, “Through thanksgiving.” Instead of lamenting what I was losing, I began to give thanks for the thirty years, the memories and all the graces God gave me there. Instead of lamenting the losses I celebrated the graces. Thanksgiving is healing. God works through gratitude to bring healing for the losses.
Many of you have lost parents and homes and have felt the pain of what I am describing. God is faithful to bring us through to a better day as we give thanks. Memories remain but the future is bright. God has given us a gracious past but an even more glorious future dawns. To be human is to have to make peace with the past and move forward in life. God is always doing something new. God gives us new seasons in which to grow and encounter even more blessings.
Every year at Thanksgiving I wonder about atheists and agnostics. They have no one to give thanks to. Our national holiday is empty for people who don’t believe in God. They gather and sit with relatives and while Thanksgiving brings them together as friends and family, it is so hollow without its true meaning: giving thanks to God Almighty. Our Thanksgiving roots can be traced to the Pilgrims in Plymouth Massachusetts who in 1621 feasted and gave thanks to God for a blessed harvest. Since 1863 it has been an annual tradition in the US due to presidential proclamation. Due to federal legislation in 1941 Thanksgiving has been celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November.
In the Catholic Church the font and summit of the expression of our faith is Eucharist or the Mass. Eucharist comes from a Greek word which means thanksgiving. Mass is a prayer. We pray to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. There are many songs and prayers that comprise the Mass. The crescendo is the Eucharistic prayer itself. Through the act of giving thanks something miraculous happens. Ordinary gifts of bread and wine are transformed into the very body and blood of Jesus Christ. We follow the pattern of the Master at the Last Supper who gave thanks. When Jesus gave thanks holding a few loaves of bread and some fish, they multiplied to feed multitudes. Thanksgiving ruptures the ordinary and ushers in the supernatural.
During Mass right after the simple gifts of bread and wine are presented at the altar a dialogue ensues. The priest looks at the congregation and says, “Lift up your hearts!” They respond, “We have lifted them up to the Lord.” Then the priest says, “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.” The people respond, “It is right and just.”
This exchange comes from one of the earliest Christian documents we have regarding worship called the Didache. This Teaching of the Twelve Apostles dates from the late first or early second century. Its teaching has to do with ethics, church organization and baptism/Eucharist. In this important document we are given a glimpse into how the early church worshipped when they came together to break bread. The roots of the Mass lie in Biblical texts and tradition such as this document. In the Didache the early Christian presider would simply say, “Hearts up!”
When it comes to singing or giving thanks we don’t always “feel” like it. We have to make the decision to elevate our attitudes and lift up our hearts. Eventually our emotions will catch up to our choices. Gathering with others can help. We can draft in the wake of others at times. At Mass we sing along with the congregation and allow the presider to lead and direct us in our prayer. But sooner or later we will be alone and must choose to “lift up our hearts.” There is enough in life to pull our hearts down and make us focus on the negative. Our responsibility is to lift up our hearts several times during our day and give God thanks. It is right. It is just. It is fitting. We hear Paul encourage us,
Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Col. 3:16-17)
Happy Thanksgiving 2014. Safe travels and Blessed times with your friends and relatives!! Sincerely, Fr. Cedric