ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 18, 2022
This coming Sunday is technically Thanksgiving Sunday because the following Sunday (the one immediately after Thanksgiving) is, in fact, the First Sunday of Advent. Let that soak in for a moment. For those of you who may not be familiar with Advent, it is the four Sundays in advance of Christmas that prepare us to receive the Christ Child anew. I love all the decorations and Christmas music on the radio, though amidst all the busyness, parties and shopping, do we really do the necessary work within ourselves for the message of Christmas. I would guess that most of us would say, “No!” The point of Advent is, in part, to teach patience, and the importance of preparation and mindfulness for what is happening in the moment. As a result, I’m going to try to be especially mindful of Thanksgiving, a holiday muddled by Black Friday (which usually begins on Thanksgiving) and lost in the shadow of Christmas. If we take the Apostle Paul seriously, specifically Thessalonians 5, then we should be people who are “Rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in all circumstances.” Thanksgiving, and the days leading up to it, provide us with an amazing opportunity to hunker down and really focus on giving thanks in all circumstances. Maybe we will walk away as people who have a bit more gratitude within ourselves.
Whatever it takes, O God of Abundant Gifts, teach me to be a bit more gracious and grateful. Amen.
