Readings for Thanksgiving Sunday

Open your heart with a centring prayer:
God, we are here, and ready to say “thank you”! To say thank you for the day, even when the weather creates obstacles for our plans. To say thank you for these friends, even when some talk too much and others say too little. To say thank you for our lives, even though we have a few suggestions for what would, in our opinion, have been a better blessing. Most of all, we thank you for your delight in us, and that in your laughter we know ourselves loved, through everything and always, Amen.

In Canada, this week, we take a break from the lectionary readings and reflect on the harvest celebration of Thanksgiving. Each fall, the Ojibwe people celebrated Wataybugaw, meaning the changing of the colours, holding pow-wows as a symbol of their thanks to creator and to community. In 1578, the explorer Martin Frobisher celebrated a European-style service in Newfoundland, to give thanks for safe passage across the ocean. Samuel de Champlain marked a harvest festival shared with the aboriginal people near his settlement in the early 17th century (unfortunately, the sharing didn’t last long!) The October date for Thanksgiving was not set until 1957, when it was set for the second Monday in October because of conflicting observances between a November Thanksgiving and November 11 Armistice/Remembrance Day.

READ Deuteronomy 8:7-18

The book of Deuteronomy is the fifth in the Penteteuch – the “law” traditionally said to be written by Moses, but likely containing a variety of sources, from the as early as the 10th century to the fourth century before Christ. It covers the history of Israel from the arrival at the border of the promised land, through the teachings of Moses on how they should live, to the death of Moses. Some characteristics: absolute loyalty to Yahweh, over against other gods and nations – many parts were written to address maintaining identity in Babylonian exile; also to express an attitude of gratitude for the restoration of Jerusalem and the promised land.

Today’s reading follows a history of God’s rescue from the wilderness (not from slavery by the Egyptians!)In contrast the land of milk and honey is perfect!

From verse 7 it is clearly the perspective of the author that Israel in the promised land is God's will. In verse 10 – “he has given you…” – once in Abraham’s covenant, then again in Moses, then after exile returned again in restoration. For Deuteronomy, there is great importance in keeping the law as a way of giving thanks. But the greatest enemy to Yahweh not other gods, but our own pride and belief that we "deserve" our promised land. OR Perish! as it warns in verse 19.

Question for reflection:
Is there a particular place where you feel or have felt some sense of “ownership”? How has that been challenged? What would Deuteronomy’s perspective teach you about it?

READ Psalm 65:
The psalm begins with the human relationship with God, then expands to non-breathing creation!

Verses 1-4 express the relationship of the faithful to God, through acts of praise, God's mercy and the people's response.
Verse 5 is the transition from human experience to the whole earth's dependence on God. Verses 6-13 describe God's relationship with mountains, seas, skies, rain, harvest, and how all the physical elements of the earth sing with joy.

READ 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

Paul likely wrote 4 letters to Corinth: the first was “lost” but is mentioned in 1 Corinthians; the 2nd letter was our 1 Corinthians, a pastoral letter to an unstable community. The 3rd letter, described as a “stern letter” is also lost to us, but apparently had some effect, because the 4th letter is our 2nd Corinthians, and while it clears up a few loose ends, is a thankful letter, confident of a good relationship.

This letter was written prior to Paul’s visit to Corinth, where he hopes to collect funds to take to the destitute saints at Jerusalem – Christian community means not just giving to their own church, but extending it to the wider community.

Paul sees this mission as investing wisely, returning generosity for God's generosity. He quotes from Prov 22:9, and Psalm 112:9, and reminds the Corinthians where seed and bread really come from, In return they receive an “enriched” life from God. A generous heart is as good as a confession of faith, and in return the saints will be praying for them. Do they have more powerful prayer?

What is our motivation for giving? Do we give because we expect to get something in return? Is it out of guilt for having more? Is it out of thanksgiving for having enough?

Question for Reflection:
Paul considers it a kind of confession to live with economic generosity – what does your giving say about your faith? (Do you give with strings attached? Do you give without any expectation of accountability?)

READ Luke 17:11-19

A well-known story – how do we make it new again?

NOTE:
The little aside that John put at the beginning of his narrative of Jesus asking for a drink from the woman at the well in Samaria, said it all: "Jews do not share things in common with the Samaritans." This incident reflects that same hostile relationship. It is told with a certain amount of polemic against Jews. Every traveller to Jerusalem from Galilee must either pass through Samaria or skirt its borders. Ironically, this is still one of the hot-spots of occupied Palestinian and Israeli territory.

To be told of the gratitude of the one Samaritan leper whom Jesus cleansed
along with the other nine would have been an offence to Jews. The
pericope does not say so specifically, but presumably the remaining nine were Jews like Jesus. They had been banished from all social contact and ritual
observances because they were lepers. They were homeless, sick, and in
many ways considered reprehensible for unknown sins. The hills bordering
Samaria would have been a likely place for them to find some measure of
security, but not healing.

Jesus committed several breaches of the Torah in speaking to them and
telling them to show themselves to the priests. No greater ritual
impurity could there be for a priest or rabbi than to be in close
proximity to such people.

The punch-line of the story is in verse 16. The man who returned,
prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him was a Samaritan. Jesus
marvelled at the ingratitude of the other nine. He assured the grateful
one that it was his faith - nothing else, not his ethnic origin or his
religious identity or his economic value to society, just his faith - had
made him whole. Does this not tell us something about Jesus' view of what
faith is? It does not have any of the rigid boundaries that we tend to put
on it. Faith is something everyone can have.

Question for Reflection:
What kind of healing do we expect from God? Do we really anticipate that God’s healing will change all of our living and our relationships?

Closing:
An updated “We plough the fields” inspired by Walter Farquharson (Saltcoats, SK)

We plough the fields with tractors, with drills we seed the land,
But growth is still the wondrous gift of God’s almighty hand.
We add our fertilizers to help the growing grain,
but for its full fruition, it needs God’s sun and rain.

With many new machines, now, we live our lives each day;
We pluck our food from fridge and shelf, instead of baling hay;
Still its God who gives us the skills and tools we need
Those things that ease and keep our lives are born of Spirit’s seed.

We thank you then, Creator, for life so rich and good;
For seedtime and the harvest, the wealth of daily food,
No gifts have we to offer, for all your love imparts,
But what you most desire, our humble thankful hearts.

Chorus:
All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above;
Then thank the Lord, O thank the Lord, for all God’s love!