From the Dean’s Desk…

Consider these words – in italics – from the Second (Epistle) Reading

for the Day of Thanksgiving, from St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians,

for us in Canada, Monday, 14 October, for our friends to the south, 28 November:

Rejoice in the Lord always;

again I will say, Rejoice.

Let your gentleness be known to everyone.

The Lord is near.

Do not worry about anything,

but in everything

by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

And, also, these words from Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians:

Thanksgiving-1Thessalonians5-18, Rock and Leaf_2

It is NOT God’s will that we give thanks FOR everything, just as it is not God’s will that we suffer and die in sometimes awful ways, and that the creation itself groans in travail. However, it IS God’s will, desire, longing, that we learn, in the power of Christ, the One who is risen from the dead, to give thanks IN everything. This is a key difference; it reminds us that giving thanks is a spiritual discipline, and a very healthy one, which will lead us into the way of peace, peace that the world cannot give, peace which surpasses all understanding.

An attitude of gratitude will, in the power of the Holy Spirit, guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, and, indeed, guard our very lives, no matter what may happen, no matter what circumstances we may face, we can live in that wonderful peace and know true joy. That’s cause for giving thanks 365 days a year, don’t you think?

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! And, most especially,

Thanks be to God!