Thanksgiving Day: Providence

THANKSGIVING DAY

In November 1621, after the Pilgrims' first corn harvest proved successful, Governor William Bradford organized a celebratory feast and invited a group of the fledgling colony's Native American allies, including the Wampanoag chief Massasoit. Now remembered as America's "first Thanksgiving"—although the Pilgrims may not have used the term then.

Although the idea of setting apart days of Thanksgiving was an old-world custom brought to the new world by the pilgrims, Thanksgiving Day, as we celebrate it, is unique to the American experience. From its inception, the impulse to give thanks was tied directly to God's providence. Divine providence is how God guides his creation and lovingly and wisely cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history. 

A recognition of God's providential hand was the reason for the first recorded Thanksgiving celebrated in 1621. We must remember what these first settlers faced when they arrived here in 1620. Their first winter was so brutal that most colonists remained on board their ship, suffering from exposure, scurvy, and terrible outbreaks of contagious diseases. 

Only half of the Mayflower's original passengers and crew lived to see their first New England spring. They left the boat and began to settle the land, befriending and learning from local Indians. And, in November 1621, the Pilgrims experienced their first successful corn harvest, prompting Governor William Bradford to organize a celebratory feast to which they invited their Native American friends. Of this first Thanksgiving, the pilgrim chronicler Edward Winslow wrote,

"Our harvest being gotten in, our governor sent four men on fowling, that so we might after a special manner rejoice together after we had gathered the fruits of our labors... for three days we entertained and feasted... And although it is not always so plentiful, as it was at this time with us, yet by the goodness of God, we are so far from want, that we often wish you partakers of our plenty."

God had brought these pilgrims to a new and fruitful land that would provide for them and their children, and by the sign of an abundant corn harvest, they believed that this land, this country that we have inherited, to be blessed by God and given as a gracious gift from his providential hand. In response to the earth yielding food, they thanked God, rejoicing for three days because the Lord, through his providential goodness, had provided such a bountiful harvest that they were "so far from want."

In 1789, George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving proclamation by the national government of the United States; in it, he called upon Americans to express their gratitude for the happy conclusion to the country's war of independence and the successful ratification of the U.S. Constitution. Our founders, congressmen, and citizens recognized the goodness of God's providence in having brought the nation into existence; yes, by the blood, sweat, and tears of men and women, but not apart from Divine guidance, protection, and care.

They gave thanks for the constitutional establishment of this country and for this broad and fair land in which it was established. Because a country, any country, is situated geographically somewhere on the planet. A country isn't merely an abstract idea or set of laws, rules, and regulations; it is certainly this, but such things are necessarily embodied, so to speak, by a people living in an actual geographical space. America is more than an idea or a dream; it is one united and diverse people living in a given land defined by its sovereign borders. 

Now, I know it's unfashionable to publicly give thanks to the Christian God. And what's even more out of vogue is thanking God for this country of ours, the United States of America. There are several reasons why the winds of dissatisfaction and ingratitude blow across the fruited planes. The cultural air of healthy skepticism has turned into unhealthy cynicism. No doubt there's much to reflect upon and, in some instances, repent of in the American past and present. But that's been true of every human society and will be until the Lord returns. There are no perfect cultures, towns, cities, or states, just as there are no perfect people. There has never been a "perfect America." God forbid our giving thanks for anything, or anyone, depends on their level of perfection!

So, what is worth giving thanks for in this country of ours? What demands our giving thanks to God and offering our worship to him this Thanksgiving day? It's an important question because we are American citizens, placed by God's providential hand, to live this Christian life in these United States, right here in Rockwall, Texas. What good gifts and blessings has God bestowed upon us? For what are we to communally give thanks

Thanksgiving Day is all about communal gratitude. Today, the citizens of this great country gather together, one nation under God, and we, as one parish united by the Holy Spirit, offer common praise and thanksgiving. By this, we recognize the goodness of God not only in our own families and lives but in the lives of one another whom we live, play, work, and worship with. Believe it or not, the soul and disposition of this great nation correspond to a prevailing spirit of gratitude or ingratitude.

Giving thanks together is so very important. St. Thomas Aquinas understood that the virtue of gratitude leads people to happiness and that it is "the mark of a happy disposition to see good rather than evil. Counting blessings and adding up the good things of life, including the gift of life itself, makes for a more virtuous people precisely because it increases the virtue of gratitude in those who are so thankful. Though we may be unable to move the national ingratitude needle, we can choose to be a grateful church: Christians choosing to offer Diving thanks in good times and bad.

Ingratitude is the worst Christian apologetic! Conversely, gratitude is infectious. But a common spirit of thanksgiving depends on common sight. Are we all seeing the same thing? Are we recognizing and seeing the evidence of God's providence in this parish, our community, and our nation? Is God's providential goodness as clear and evident to us as the bountiful corn harvest was to the pilgrims? By such an obvious sign, they were confident of God's presence and care: He was with them. Do we see the same?

Today is a national day to reflect upon every good and perfect gift God has blessed us with and to thank Him. These good gifts (St. James tells us) are perfect, meaning they are completely good or wholly good. Though perfect, that is not to say that God's perfect gifts provide everything we might or could ever need, but rather, a perfect gift fully accomplishes what the Giver intends for the recipient. 

The perfect God gives perfectly to imperfect people. Have you ever contemplated how imperfection is a perfect gift? It's worth thinking about. What good does God intend to bring forth from this imperfect parish? From your imperfect spouse and children? Why do you live and move and have your being in this imperfect nation of ours? Or this imperfect world, for that matter? What is God doing in and for us through this world of imperfections?

The short answer is: He is making us perfect. Learning to love unloveable people. Helping us recognize true joy amidst difficult circumstances, peace in the face of conflict, patience in suffering, kindness in response to hate, generosity in times of temporary scarcity, faithfulness to what truly matters to God (chaste in our singleness, fidelity to the marriage bed, showing up to work on time and putting in a full day's work, keeping commitments to one another, within the church, and our relations), gentleness in this dog-eat-dog world and self-control when provoked by the many imperfections of this world. This imperfect world is the means by which God sanctifies and perfects his people. This is a divine good, a gift given to the children of God.

Gratitude, my friends, is a voluntary act of the will. It is a daily choice every Christian must make. Is God, in this particular circumstance, intending good or harm toward me? Are this nation, this city, and even this parish providential gifts of God given for my good? Is God deserving of my praise and thanksgiving? Yes, he most certainly is. Look at the cross and see the abundant provision of God given for you, dear sinner. "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures." 

A Perfect Savior lived a perfect life, died a perfect death, and thereby opened the gates of heaven to imperfect sinners like you and me. Every good and every perfect gift is given from above, everything in your life, everyone in your life, everywhere in your life; therefore, repent of ingratitude and give thanks to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who, with the fellowship of the Holy Ghost has provided everything that truly matters in this life and the next. Amen+