A Prayer For The Week Of Thanksgiving

 

 

Almighty Eternal, Heavenly Father, this week we celebrate what is probably the purest, unadulterated, memorable holiday on the American calendar.  Nearly every other special day has been corrupted by commercialism or turned into a three day vacation, but Thanksgiving Day has by its very nature retained its intended purpose, that of expressing gratitude to You for Your blessings and benevolence, both for the body and the soul.  This year, however, when our nation is in a financial crisis, when the number of unemployed has reached an uncomfortable high, when the trust in government is at an all time low, many will find reasons for not being thankful.  All of which reminds me of the ten lepers who were healed by Christ.  All were cleansed of their leprosy but, after reporting to the local priest, only one returned to give thanks.

 

Normally, I would center my thoughts on the one who returned, but this year I have focused my thoughts on the nine who did not return to give thanks to the one who had healed them.  I couldn’t help but ask, “Why did they not return to give thanks to Christ for working a mighty miracle of healing in their bodies?”  What excuses might they have given?   Is it possible that one might have replied, “God knows we are thankful, why do we have to express our thanks to Him?”  Again another might have responded, “I am still angry that he permitted me to get leprosy.”  A third might have retaliated, “I don’t believe in a higher power, he must have healed me by some magic.”  A fourth may have retorted, “I deserved to be healed.  I lived a good life.”  A fifth might have recoiled: “I lost my job when I got leprosy, why give thanks when I’m unemployed.”  Still another might have snapped back, “I have so many other problems, healing my leprosy is really only the beginning of my needs.”  Finally, the last might have railed that he just didn’t feel like being thankful.

 

As we think of the reasons the nine did not express their thanks, we may be moved to examine why we are not expressing our thanks to You, our Heavenly Father, for the blessings we have received.   We see that they are really just excuses, none of which are fitting of one who knows and understands Your love and compassion.

 

O God of grace and glory, who owes us nothing, let us take time to follow the example of the one leper who returned with out stretched hands, thanking You for the gift of healing.  Let us take time each day, and especially on Thursday, to stretch out our hands, thanking You for Your unmerited goodness to each and very one of us.

 

Hear our prayer, offered in the name of Jesus.   Amen