“And we urge you, beloved, to admonish idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving, a secular holiday in our nation that admittedly has too often white-washed the history of European settlers and the Indigenous people we unsettled (and worse) as a result. There is much to be repentant for, and much more work lies ahead of us.
Thanksgiving also offers us the opportunity to practice the spiritual disciple of gratitude, giving thanks to God, from whom all blessings flow. In the above passage from 1 Thessalonians, the author admonishes the church to do good in all ways, avoiding repayment of evil with evil, all while being patient with one another. These are words all Christians can use as a compass, as a north-star, orienting us toward the way of Christ.
The author puts a very fine point on it when he writes: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” And while this way of being sometimes flows forth easily for disciples of Jesus, often it is not so easy. When disappointment, and despair, and death are knocking it can be difficult to rejoice. When grief and anxiety have overwhelmed us, it can feel impossible to pray. When one bad thing happens after another, it can leave us at a loss for what we are supposed to be giving thanks for.
My sisters, my brothers, my siblings in Christ Jesus, if this is such a season for you, may these words be an encouragement for you, if you are struggling to rejoice, if you are struggling to pray, if you are struggling to give thanks in all things, turn once more to the beginning of this passage: “Admonish idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak.” When we turn our efforts to be in service to others, God’s grace has a mystical way of welling up within us, and rejoicing, and praying, and giving thanks have a way of following naturally.
Know that this Thanksgiving, I rejoice because of you my St. John family members. I am praying without ceasing for you and yours. And I am giving thanks to God Almighty for you and our shared space in the family of God.
May God’s grace and blessings be with you and yours this holiday season as we gather to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us.
Shalom,
Pastor Andy