Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving, one of the most important holidays in the United States, is celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November. This day is a central part of American culture and brings families together to celebrate Thanksgiving. The historical roots of Thanksgiving go back to 1620, when the Pilgrim Fathers moved to what is now the USA on the “Mayflower,” a large sailing ship. These settlers endured an extremely harsh first winter in which approximately half of the Pilgrims died. The survivors were supported by the neighboring Wampanoag natives, who not only provided them with food but also showed them how to grow native crops such as corn. This support led to a bountiful harvest the following year, ensuring the settlers' survival. In gratitude for this help, the settlers held the first Thanksgiving feast to which they invited the native people.

Thanksgiving literally means: thanksgiving. Today in Europe, Thanksgiving is a predominantly church-based festival with a service in which the altar is decorated with fruits, vegetables, grains, pumpkins and bread. With singing and prayers, people thank God for his gifts and for the harvest.

For us Christians, the primary reason for gratitude is God's greatest gift: Jesus Christ. Our knowledge of who Jesus is and the identity we find in him, as well as our appreciation of relationships, foster our gratitude. This is reflected in the words of the British Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon: “I believe there is something even more precious than the celebration of Thanksgiving. How do we implement this? By a general cheerfulness of conduct, by obedience to the command of him by whose mercy we live, by persistent joy in the Lord, and by the submission of our desires to his will."

Out of gratitude for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and our reconciliation with him, we take part in the Christian celebration of the Lord's Supper. This celebration is known in some churches as the Eucharist (εὐχαριστία means thanksgiving). By eating bread and wine, symbols of Jesus' body and blood, we express our gratitude and celebrate our life in Christ. This tradition has its origins in the Jewish Passover, which commemorates God's saving acts in Israel's history. An essential part of the Passover celebration is the singing of the hymn “Dayenu” (Hebrew for “it would have been enough”), which describes God’s rescue work for Israel in fifteen verses. Much like God saved Israel by parting the Red Sea, Christ offers us salvation from sin and death. The Jewish Sabbath as a day of rest is reflected in Christianity in the rest we have in Christ. God's former presence in the temple now takes place in believers through the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving is a good time to pause and reflect on our own “Dayenu”: “God can do infinitely more for us than we can ever ask or imagine. “So mighty is the power with which he works in us” (Ephesians 3,20 Good News Bible).

God the Father gave his Son, of whom he said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3,17).

In obedience to the Father, Jesus allowed himself to be crucified, died and was buried. By the power of the Father, Jesus rose from the grave, was resurrected on the third day, and defeated death. He then ascended to the Father in heaven. I believe that the God who did all of this and continues to act in our lives far beyond anything we can imagine. Although it is useful to read about God's work in ancient Israel, we should often reflect on the mercy of Jesus Christ in our lives today.

The essential truth is that Heavenly Father loves and cares for us. He is the great giver who loves us without limits. When we realize that we are the recipients of such perfect blessings, we should pause and acknowledge our Heavenly Father as the source of every good and perfect gift: "Every good gift and every perfect gift comes down from above, from the Father of lights in whom there is no change, nor change of light and darkness" (James 1,17).

Jesus Christ accomplished what we could never have done for ourselves. Our human resources will never be able to free us from sin. As we gather as family and friends, let us use this annual event as an opportunity to bow in humility and gratitude before our Lord and Savior. May we thank God for what He has done, what He is doing and what He will do. May we recommit ourselves to devoting our time, treasures, and talents to the work of His kingdom to be accomplished by His grace.

Jesus was a grateful person who didn't complain about what he didn't have, but simply used what he did have for the glory of God. He didn't have much silver or gold, but what he had he gave away. He gave healing, cleansing, freedom, forgiveness, compassion and love. He gave of himself – in life and in death. Jesus continues to live as our High Priest, giving us access to the Father, giving us the assurance that God loves us, giving us hope for his return and giving us himself.

by Joseph Tkach

Thanksgiving

Prayer out of gratitude

Jesus the firstling