Thanksgiving

I started a new entry on priesthood in August, got sidetracked and yesterday couldn’t remember where it was supposed to go. So, in the immortal words of the Cybermen: “Delete! Delete!”

This Thanksgiving morning we’ve got a turkey brining in the basement and a good deal of the prep already done. There’s no football on tv as we’re in a cable free environment with no local channels and slow speed internet. Thus I had some quiet this morning while offering Morning Prayer to reflect once again on the General Thanksgiving in the Daily Offices of the Book of Common Prayer:

“We bless you for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;” which covers what the US Thanksgiving Day is supposed to be about. But it doesn’t stop there. “…but above all in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ;”

In there is a reminder that God’s intent is not to destroy the world (acc. to NT Wright a late misreading of Revelation to John and Jesus words about a time of tribulation) but to redeem it, to rescue it from it’s captivity to futility (cf Romans 8). So the world has been redeemed however little it may look like it and the thanksgiving of God’s people are one of the means by which redemption becomes visible. After all, according to the General Thanksgiving the act of thanksgiving is more than just a “thank you” to the Almighty.

“And, we pray, give us such an awareness of your mercies, that with truly thankful hearts we may show forth your praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to your service, and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all our days:”

All of which means that after the soporific properties of the turkey have worn off, thanksgiving continues in attention to our inner wholeness and integrity and our energy devoted to reconciliation and justice.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.