The 9 Guys Who Missed Thanksgiving
Would you know who is the greatest saint in the world? It is not he who prays most or fasts most; it is not he who gives most alms or is most eminent for temperance, chastity, or justice; but it is he who is always thankful to God, who wills everything that God wills, who receives everything as an instance of God’s goodness and has a heart always ready to praise God for it. Could you therefore work miracles, you could not do more for yourself than by this thankful spirit, for it turns all that it touches into happiness.
— A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, William Law
On Sept 8, 1860 there was a shipwreck on Lake Michigan, daunting waters that have seen many disasters over the years. This particular boat went down near Evanston, Illinois — where Northwestern University is located. The big steamer, the Lady Eljin ran into a schooner during the night — carrying union soldiers back from a campaign speech for Stephen A. Douglas. The Hundreds on board suddenly found themselves in the frigid waters of Lake Michigan, in the dark of night, and in search of a hold on flotsam and jetsam in hopes of surviving the night. To this day, this is the 2nd worst disaster in the history of lake Michigan — over 400 people lost their lives.
Northwestern, as it turns out, had the only lifesaving station on the edge of the lake at that time. One of the young men on the life saving team was a ministerial student at the University. His name was Edward Spencer.
In the wee hours of the morning, after news of the disaster had begun to spread around campus, it found its way to Mr. Spencer who then found his way to the lake’s edge — grabbed a life preserver and waded into the freezing cold waters. He searched until he found a woman clinging onto a wood plank for dear life. He delivered her safely to shore. Then waded back out. Over the next several hours he went out over and over again, rescuing 17 people from the frigid waters and from near certain death.
In the process his health was permanently damaged, and he was not able to enter the ministry as he had planned and for which he was studying.
Decades later at the very end of a conference in Los Angeles — now with white hair — an aged Mr. Spencer was asked a final question by the panel interviewer:
“Mr. Spencer, so much has been written and said about your heroic efforts on that day, what is the one thing you walk away with — the thing that stands out more than anything else?”
Without missing a beat he replied: “In all these years, no one has ever said ‘thank you.’
***
Ohhhh THANKSGIVING.
Merriam Webster defines Thanksgiving as: “A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness.”
Saint Paul beseeches us in 1Thessalonians 5 — Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The will of God in Christ Jesus for you — to give thanks in all circumstances. It’s a tall order, isn’t it? Who can do this? These 17 people didn’t find it within themselves to thank the man who gave so much to save their lives.
I propose if we want to take Saint Paul seriously, we have to get a handle on Thanksgiving.
But first, I have a confession.
When I agreed to preach this weekend – well, first of all I was told I could phone it in — that there’d only be 4 of you here. So good on you -- getting here on a holiday week!
But more seriously, I thought to myself – ‘Great — Thanksgiving — oh, that’ll be an easy one.’ Almost immediately, I had a clever sermon name and an outline on the back of a napkin. Then I went to the Bible for some Scripture to support my message
I figured all I needed was a few hours to pull it all together. But after 2 full days of preparing, the message was in shambles. It didn't make sense. The logic wasn’t there. And it just didn’t feel right.
Moreover, as I ran into some of you in the neighborhood, saw some of you at parish group and heard from others via email and phone, I realized something: while we may have much for which to be thankful, we’re still struggling.
We’re sad, lonely, anxious, uncertain. We don’t get everything we want in our lives. We’re sick and we’re scared. Even some of the things that bring us joy, bring with them matching sorrow.
In her book, Prayers in the Night, Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren tells us that her Church congregation is “…beautiful and ordinary, but in that one room each Sunday, there’s enough sadness to make the heavens silent”.
As far as I can tell, our congregation is no different.
And there it is: Thanksgiving is not easy, In fact, Thanksgiving can be very hard. But it’s also consummately important.
God was showing me my assumptions about Thanksgiving were wrong. My message didn’t come together because it was just that — it was MY message. It was the message I brought to God and asked him to co-sponsor.
That’s just not how it works.
God was telling me he’s a person who wants to interact with us. He wanted me to prayerfully listen to His Word, rather than come to it it with my agenda. He wants us to seek his wisdom.
So I had to go back to the basics and start over — hopefully hearing better what God had for us today.
Paul implores us to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances. If this is God’s desire for us, we need to figure out how to show up for Thanksgiving.
But how do we do that?
I think I found some answers from the 10 lepers in the account of their healing in Luke chapter 17 (verses 11-19).
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he was about to enter a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Let’s unpack this story together. I propose we can learn at least three things about how to make it to Thanksgiving.
We must go to Jesus in our sorrow
We must go to Jesus in our joy
And we must go to Jesus JUST as we are
First, we must go to Jesus in our sorrow. We start with ten lepers in Luke 17. Ten men are healed in this story. Though we don’t get to know their stories particularly well (funny how the bible has so much detail on some things and so little on others). But at least a few things are clear about these men.
For starters, we have 9 Jews and a Samaritan – 9 from the religious set joined by one from the hated neighboring race, apparently not far from his home. That they are even together – Jews with a Samaritan – speaks to how outcast they are collectively. Had they a choice, the Jews would likely never have suffered the presence of this other man.
Jesus and his disciples come upon them about 20 miles north of Jerusalem. The lepers are standing outside of a village — keeping their distance from everyone – announcing themselves loudly as “Unclean unclean!!” as they’re required to do by custom and the Levitical law. Together, they are 10 miserable helpless men.
How do we know this? Well, we read between the lines a bit. But we know some things about leprosy and its effects — especially in Biblical times.
Leprosy is a long-term bacterial infection that often leads to damage of the nerves which tends to result in a lack of ability to feel physical pain. Then simple cuts and scrapes — unnoticed and untreated — often lead to the loss of body parts.
So ironically, lepers don’t feel pain — body parts falling off — but in Biblical times at least, they must still feel the fear and disgust everyone feels toward them. The isolation of not having a place in society. The loss of their families & friends. And the terror of knowing the their deaths are approaching.
In the Bible, leprosy was also used as a picture of sin in our lives. Like sin, Leprosy is incurable, contagious, isolating, cured by priests not doctors — and ONLY through sacrifice.
These men are struggling. They are desperate. They are sorrowful.
Let’s pause here for a second… I think there are some great lessons here for us on Thanksgiving — believe it or not.
First, something about us — sometimes the hard things in our lives keep us from God (don’t they?). Our Struggles, disappointments, loneliness – even our own sin. Disappointment with life and our world is one of the main reasons people say they don’t — even can’t — believe in the God of the Bible.
But these men were somehow different. When Jesus approaches, they manage to belt out a prayer, begging for mercy. Maybe there was a ray of hope that only they could see. Maybe only one lifted his voice at first, then another echoed — until a passerby could hear all 10 of them shouting with all their might (I don’t know!).
What I do know is this – 10 men had death sentences when they woke up that day. But when Jesus came ‘round, all were given new life, another chance.
Which takes us a couple lessons about God. First, he is willing to go to the outskirts to find those who are struggling. He wasn’t in the temple this particular day, He wasn’t in Jerusalem, he wasn't even inside the gates of whatever town they were visiting. He was outside, where lepers linger
Secondly, he loves to bless us—to pour out life. See, miracles are really just setting things back to rights. It’s the need for miracles that is not as it ought to be. Miracles in a sense are the most natural things of all. And Jesus couldn't turn a deaf ear to the pleas from these men for a miracle to set their lives right.
It’s important to see here that healing began with a cry for help. Then — on Jesus’ word — they took a step of faith. Notice, nothing had changed in their circumstances. An arm maybe still falling off here, blindness still setting in there, open wounds everywhere – shouting “unclean, unclean” as they went.
I don’t mean to make light of it but – still outwardly falling apart – they walked together to the priest. I have to think they wondered as they walked: “Will anything be different when we get there?” And yet, they took small steps of faith. And when they arrived they were healed
If you hear nothing else today, please hear this:
There is no place you can go, where Jesus won’t come to find you
There is nothing you can do, that will stop him from loving you
There is no depth of sorrow, or grief or despair that He is unable to lift you out of — or unwilling to walk through with you
This story begins in misery and isolation but ends in healing, community and forgiveness.
We learn from our 10 friends in the story that Thanksgiving begins when we call to God in our sorrow and are willing to take a small step of faith. He loves to pour out life to those who call him.
So first we must go to God in our sorrow with whatever faith we can muster. But we must also go to him in our joy.
***
9 guys missed Thanksgiving but I don’t think they weren’t thankful. They had a lot for which to be thankful — all the good that had been restored to them. They could now return to their families and communities. They could embrace those they loved. They could hold their children again. As I said, we don’t know a whole lot about these guys
But if I was to bet on one thing, I’d bet on this. After they were healed, I bet they went home.
They went back to their lives, families and communities. They returned to attending and serving in their temples. Ungrateful? I doubt it.
Our suffering can keep us from God; but you see, sometimes, our blessings also keep us from God. Our gifts and abilities, money and accomplishments. Friends and family. Little league, birthdays and bottles. Even religious services and missions.
What?! Religion keep us from God? It can — absolutely…
Church and parish group and leadership roles and missions — all the things we’re doing FOR God – they can actually keep us FROM God if we’re not careful
And I think we’re meant to see that here.
Presumably all 10 of these guys had some faith, as that was generally a prerequisite for Jesus’ healing. But the Samaritan is the only one who returns to Jesus. The cultural and religious outsider is the only one who doesn't miss thanksgiving. That has to tell us something.
Could it be that the Jews thought it was more important to return to family and temple? To all the good things in their lives? Is that so crazy?
St. Augustine famously stated that “The essence of sin is disordered love.”
It’s not that we love gifts and blessings too much. It’s that we love God too little relative to those things. That is, we tend to love good things more than the giver of those things.
It’s easy to judge the 9. But I suspect if we do, we’ll miss this point: Until we learn to love most the Giver of Gifts, the gifts themselves will only keep us from him.
But how can we be sure to order God first in our hearts, amidst all his blessings? If disordered love is at the heart of sin — and I believe it is — this is something we should all be praying about. I wish there was a silver bullet against this “werewolf of blessing idolatry.”
But maybe the best we can do here today is to try to learn something from our Samaritan friend. Only He went to Jesus in his overwhelming joy, thanking him and praising him loudly. Do you see it friends? THANKSGIVING.
We are meant to see that in the very act of Thanksgiving he is elevating Jesus in his heart.
Praise and thanksgiving are disciplines and liturgies, not moods and feelings. Do we have patterns in our lives where we practice them? Journaling maybe? Meditation on God’s divine character and goodness? Reciting thanksgivings around the dinner table with our families? Are we embarrassed to gush about God in public?
I’m convinced of this: we need regular practices for praise and thanksgiving in our lives.
We must go to him in our sorrow, go to him in our joy; and finally, we can go to him exactly as we are.
***
At the very end of the story, Jesus says to the Samaritan: “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
What may be most interesting here is the Greek word translated "made you well.’
It's not a medical phrase exactly – although it was used to describe the safe delivery of a baby. This is the Greek word, "so-zo" which means, "saved.” The Greeks used it to describe one who escapes a dangerous situation. Sailors surviving a storm at sea had been saved, they said. They are Sozo.
When Matthew began his gospel, he started with the Christmas story. The angel told Joseph to name his son "Jesus," because that name meant that he would "save people from their sins." He would sozo the people.
It seems clear to me — and the commentators tend to agree — that in the conclusion of this story, we see the Samaritan received deeper healing than the others. In fact, I think we can assume that this was a salvific encounter with Jesus
That is, as he comes to Jesus in Thanksgiving, he receives eternal life — his soul now healed along with his body. He was sozo. So there seems to be real power in this man’s Thanksgiving. But how?
The words translated “Thanksgiving” or “Give Thanks” are in the Bible 173 times. In the Old Testament “Thanks” is mainly the translation of the Hebrew word: spelled “ydh” (I won’t try to pronounce it). It means: “Acknowledging what is right about God in praise and thanksgiving” — so essentially praise.
Get this — It can also mean: “A right acknowledgment of self before God in confessing sin” — so essentially repentance.
In the New Testament — thanks is mainly the translation of the Greek word “eucharisteo”. It means “To show oneself grateful, to be thankful” — essentially just Thanksgiving – as in Jesus giving thanks to God for the bread and wine during the last supper (that’s why we call it Eucharist).
Here’s the takeaway from all this language mumbo jumbo: “praise”, “repentance,” “thanksgiving of his divine goodness” — Thanksgiving is more about who he is than it is about our circumstances. Thanksgiving is more about God than it is about us.
And this sheds light on the story of our Samaritan friend. Physically healed — Luke tells us he returned in Thanksgiving. He returned because he wanted more of Jesus; not because he wanted more from Jesus.
I’m not convinced he had any idea what he really needed. But when he gets to Jesus, he finds he is bowing before the man who loves to forgive maybe even more than he loves to heal.
Just healing isn’t enough for Jesus. See, healing— was easy for him. The Bible seems pretty clear that it’s no biggie for Jesus to heal leprosy, restore sight to the blind, stop hemorrhaging, even call out demons. After all, he’s just setting things to rights.
But the Bible is equally clear on this — deeper healing, forgiveness of sins – sodzo… Well, that has a cost.
The Samaritan needed this deeper healing. Unfortunately, we — all of us — need this deeper healing too. The forgiveness of our sins, the healing of our spiritual leprosy…. remember — it’s cured by priests not doctors — and ONLY through sacrifice.
You may recall earlier in Luke, Jesus healed a crippled man with the very words “your sins are forgiven”?
The religious leaders immediately identify this as blasphemy (Jedidiah talked about this last week). Only God can forgive sins, they said. They would soon crucify him for these alleged blasphemies.
So now when we find look at the cross seeing him — not long before his death — imploring God to forgive us; perhaps we come to better understand the sacrifice our sin requires – the antidote for our sickness is nothing less than the blood of Jesus.
Forgiveness always has a cost.
And reflecting on this— the single greatest act of love in history — we find here – The source of all Thanksgiving. The final sacrifice. The lamb of God
It’s at the cross that we see we can now approach the great high priest even in our sickness and sin. Like the Samaritan, We can go to him exactly as we are – bringing nothing but praise and thanksgiving. For by his wounds, our souls are healed.
***
I’ll finish with a quick story. While on a mission trip in 1996, Pastor Jack Hinton, from New Bern, North Carolina, was leading worship at a leper colony on the island of Tabango. There was time for one more song, so he asked if anyone had a request. A woman who had been facing away from the pulpit turned around.
Hinton later described her this way
It was the most hideous face I had ever seen. The woman's nose and ears were entirely gone. The disease had destroyed her lips as well.
The woman lifted a fingerless hand in the air and asked, 'Can we sing Count Your Many Blessings?'"
Overcome with emotion, Hinton left the service. He was followed by a team member who said, "Jack, I guess you'll never be able to sing that song again."
"Yes I will," Jack replied, "…but I'll never sing it the same way.
***
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances
To the degree that we understand the unfathomable Love God has for us — as shown by the cost he paid on the cross — we will make it to Thanksgiving
And Now as we go forth into advent season — let’s Go to him — go to the one Matthew describes in his Christmas story…. He has sozod the people — saved us from our sins.
Father God, we praise and thank you for who you are and for your great love for us. Help us to take, even small steps of faith toward you, the one who LOVES to pour out life— Help us to come to you…
In our misery and isolation.
In our joy and blessings.
Help this truth to penetrate deeply in our hearts — that because you gave everything for us, we can come to you with nothing — just as we are.
Thanks be to God
Amen
“In all created things discern the providence and wisdom of God, and in all things give Him thanks.”
“When we were children we were grateful to those who filled our stockings at Christmas time. Why are we not grateful to God for filling our stockings with legs?”
— G. K. Chesterton
Thanksgiving comes from above. It is the gift that we cannot fabricate for ourselves. It is to be received. It is freely offered and asks to be freely received. That is where the choice is! We can choose to let the stranger continue his journey and so remain a stranger. But we can also invite him into our inner lives, let him touch every part of our being and then transform our resentments into gratitude. We don’t have to do this. In fact, most people don’t. But as often as we make that choice, everything, even the most trivial things, become(s) new. Our little lives become great—part of the mysterious work of God’s salvation. Once that happens, nothing is accidental, casual, or futile any more. Even the most insignificant event speaks the language of faith, hope, and above all, love. That’s the Eucharistic life, the life in which everything becomes a way of saying “Thank you” to him who joined us on the road.”
— Henri Nouwen