Thanksgiving Eve/Day-Philippians 4:6-20

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (Ps. 19:14) Amen.

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.’ (V. 6)

What is it that Paul means to tell us here? Well, as we know, we are to have that peace which passes all understanding, as the next verse tells us. We are not to worry. But you do worry don’t you. There are perhaps not a few of us who are worried that the Thanksgiving dinner will not go as planned. Whether it is the behavior of the guests or how the food will turn out, it often does not even matter how many times our house has been the place.

Any one of us could have hosted Thanksgiving dinner for decades. Yet, each year, we are right there with Martha. You are ‘bothered by many things’ (St. Luke 10:41). That is, you are anxious or of a “divided mind”. We are this way perhaps for a variety of reasons. This may be true in spite of knowing what Peter writes for our comfort: ‘All your worry cast on him, seeing that he is taking care of you’ (Ep. 1, 5:7).

What St. Paul tells us here is complex, yet it bears upon us this fall, as always. We, as we usually do, need to know this again and again.

Paul is telling you and me not only to give thanks when things go well. He is also stating that we are to give thanks even when life is not going our way. Even when the circumstances of our life are those which seem to us to be the most grievous. This is above all when we do not shrink from petitioning our heavenly Father. Even when God does not appear to be listening or answering our prayer, we continue to petition. We let the actual things asked for, ever and ever made known to God.

After all, in what better hands can any trouble of ours rest than in God’s hands? These words of Paul not only tell us to continually petition our God in our need, they also contain for you and me the assurance that in spite of appearances, God will attend to your need, to whatever we ask.

Through your faith in Christ Jesus this prayer and petition of yours will naturally be accompanied by thanksgiving or “eucharistias”. As Christians, our thankful heart is thus a joyful heart. We are always asking God for more. Without thankfulness for what God has already given to us and done for us, how then can you or I do ask? Thanksgiving comes from a heart that has a strong affection for God.[1]

‘Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.’ (Vv. 11-13)

It is in these verses here that the Apostle helps we his hearers to understand the words about thankfulness in all circumstances. In these words it is clear that what Paul is saying about himself has not always been the case. He has not always been content in all circumstance. Paul has learned as you also do in your Christian life, that the Lord is always at hand.

This praying in every circumstance, that is in success and failure, for good fortune and during bad fortune, we thank God for all of this because our God will care for us no matter what comes our way. We give thanks in all these things, even when God does not seem to be paying attention and when life goes poorly, we always give thanks because of what we have been blessed with in the past. Knowing this, we can continue to thank God for what we will receive in the future.[2] ‘Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, … O you who hears prayer, to you shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me’ (Ps. 65:1-3).

We rejoice in all these things. When our efforts fail, when we experience bad fortune in our daily life or occupation knowing that God still cares for us. He has promised us this. Our Father has promised never to leave us even at the worst times of our lives (Heb. 13:5, 6). This thankfulness in everything, not for everything, but in everything, is possible because of your faith in Jesus. This is for the forgiveness of your sins, salvation from sin death and the devil and everlasting life, which is yours now through Baptism (SC IV). This is what marks you and me and each Christian as those who are truly thankful.

In Jesus’+ Name. Amen.

[1] Commentary on the New Testament, Lenski Hendrikson, pp. 877-8.
[2] NPNF 1st 13:246-249; see also, ACCS NT vol. VIII St. John Chrysostom Homily on Philippians 15.4.4.7 p. 282.