Thanksgiving Day – USA • Year A

Historical Collect

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, your mercies are new to us every morning, and you abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul, though we have not deserved your goodness. Give us your Holy Spirit, that we may heartily acknowledge your merciful goodness toward us, give thanks for all your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy, 1894)

Thematic Collect

Heavenly Father, our lives are filled with the abundance of your grace and mercy. We thank you for the good things of your creation that fill our lives. May our gratitude be so abundant that it flows into radical generosity that reflects your boundless love for all; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Common Thread

The gratefulness and display of thanksgiving shown by the one leper is humbling. We have so much—all given by the hand of God—but are probably much less grateful. We desire more and more, never quite learning that we live by more than provisions. It is the word of the Lord, not just bread, that gives life. Therefore, great faith not only makes us well, it makes us thankful. May God be so gracious to us that he blesses us with an abundance of faith.

First Reading • Deuteronomy 8:1-10

When we cannot provide for ourselves, God can—and will. It may sometimes seem as though bread is falling from the skies. Indeed there are times when this must be the case, for we must learn to rely upon the Lord’s provision, as the Hebrews learned in the wilderness, else we begin to imagine that we are self-sufficient, and forget about the Lord. Who do we thank when we think good things come only from our industry? “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17). Just as they did in the form of manna in the wilderness, good and perfect gifts still come down from him today. May we be content with the bread he gives us, and especially thankful for that Bread of Life come down from heaven so that we may never hunger again. 

Psalm • Psalm 67:1-7

God bestows his blessings upon us through his word, and is not limited to blessing his people only when they keep his word. “God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us.” Hear the blessing and be blessed.

Second Reading • Philippians 4:4-9

Who can measure God’s bounty? We cannot do so until we have learned how to properly measure our own stores. Typically we would consult our bank account or some other ledger of what we possess. These things, however, are not the real standard of the abundance that is ours. Paul said that he learned to be content whatever his situation. For whether he had a little or a lot, he had the Lord. Knowing that God would meet the need, he was not anxious about a thing, and so, the peace of God ruled in his life. That is God’s bounty that he extends to us all. May we learn to be so content. 

Gospel • Luke 17:11-19

It often seems the case that most of the people who have been given much give little thanks. Our Lord saw it in the lives of nine of ten lepers he healed. Is the Church going the way of the nine lepers? Do we give thanks and praise for all the Lord has done for us? Or do we think we are “clean” and deserving because we are the Church?

The Church’s business is thanks and praise for all things. We must always be mindful of our leprous, sinful condition, and that God has healed us by his stripes (Isa 53:4-5). Return to the Lord and give him thanks and praise.