There is this old fable told about a far-off land which was ruled by a tyrant. The tyrant had an ironclad grip over all parts of his kingdom, except for one frustrating area. He was unable to destroy the people’s belief in God.
He summoned his counselors and put this question to them: “Where can I hide God so that the people will end up forgetting him?” One counselor suggested that God be hidden on the dark side of the moon. This proposal was debated for some time, but voted down because it was believed that one day scientists would discover a means of space travel and God would end being found again.
Another advisor to the tyrant came up with the idea of burying God beneath the depths of the ocean floor. This was voted down for basically the same reason–it was felt that scientific advancement would lead to the discovery of God even beneath the depths of the ocean floor.
Finally, the oldest and wisest of the counselors had a flash of insight. “I know”, he said, “why don’t we hide God where no one will ever think of finding him?” He explained. “If we hide God in the every day ordinary events of peoples lives they’ll never find him”. And so it was done—and they say that people are still looking for God—even today.
Thanksgiving day brings us to the realization of God more closely in the normal and routine parts of our lives. More so than normal. The scripture passages for today on this Thanksgiving day focus on what God has done, and that the decorations we see today in this church and the beauty of the Fall outside, foster in us a natural appreciation for God’s creation, his handiwork.
The very atmosphere at this time of year seems to encourage us to pause, as the growth of nature has paused, and to identify just how blessed we are, just how much we are subjects of God’s grace. And that is good—because it leads us into the transforming wonder of Thanksgiving. You know, Thanksgiving is a very important part of our faith, and by this I do not mean the time of year called thanksgiving–though that is blessed, but the act itself of thanksgiving.
It seems that Gratitude, the root of thanksgiving, is a necessary attitude, an attitude that is needed by us if we are to experience the fullness of the salvation that God has planned for us. Look at this very building, this sanctuary, everything about it, everything in it, from the cross in the glass of our steeple, the doors where we enter into this church, to the crucifix above the altar, is here by the grace of God, indeed we are here by the grace of God.
We here in the first reading from Sirach that praise and thanksgiving are given to God for his wondrous works, and a blessing is invoked on man. All we need to do to find God is just look around us. Isn’t this the underlying message of all scripture–that everything around us , and everything that we are and everything that we have is a gift of God?
The scriptures also go further in reminding us that the gifts of God are often given to us through others, some through the work of those known to us and some who are not known to us: Take another look at this building, this holy place, this gift from God.
The decorations were placed here by particular people, they just didn’t happen to show up. Time and energy was expended, time and energy which could have been used for getting ready for the football game, or going shopping, or even a visit with a friend but which was instead dedicated to the glory of God.
The fact that this building is warm is due to that fact that someone out of love for God and God’s people came early and made sure that the thermostat was set for our comfort, probably while the rest of us were enjoying a late breakfast or getting an extra few minutes snuggled in our bed. “Thank you Father”.
The music we here and sing today, the chairs we sit in, even the ambo I stand behind, everything here represents a series of gifts from God to us.
Gifts of God—gifts that have come to us through the labor and the dedication of the people beside us, of the people who went before us, and the people who went before them, people—who serve God as best they can.
Are we aware, from week to week, let alone day to day, just how much has been done for us? How much we have received through no merit of our own? Are we who serve God in one way aware of how much others who serve God in other ways have helped us? Of how much God has helped us? Have we thanked God enough?
It is very easy to get discouraged, to get down on life. We might be living in chronic pain, or suffering from a decline in our standard of living, out on strike or laid off, or we may simply not feel appreciated or valued by others —any of a hundred of things could be assailing us and making us feel miserable, even making us question God!
It is important that we go beyond the questions and back to our faith, and it is here, in the difficult times, that thanksgiving is of importance to us as individuals, that turning to God and remembering before him all that he is, and all that he has done for us becomes significant and very helpful.
God asks us for our thanksgiving whether we feel like making it or not, so that we might experience the blessings it brings, the blessings
it brings to us, and blessings it brings to others.
Look around you—find that which is good and thank God for it.
Find that which is caring and thank God and the person who is doing it. Look around, look inside, look outside, and think on that which is noble and true and beautiful and express your praise for it.
Yes, we find God who took on our humanity, and through His Eucharist we enter into the ultimate or summit of our Thanksgiving. God is seen not hidden in the ordinary events of our lives and our practice of thanksgiving will bring him to our sight and in so doing bring to others and ourselves a better world. Can God really be hidden? Look around you and be Thankful for what you see! Can God be hidden? Look into your hearts and you will find the answer.