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Sermon Preached at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Granite Springs by the the Reverend Matthew Mead
November 26, 2009
Thanksgiving Day
(RCL): Joel 2:21-27; Psalm 126; 1 Timothy 2:1-7; Matthew 6:25-33.


The anxious questions from today’s Gospel: ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ aren’t exactly far from many people’s minds in difficult economic times. In this midst of such real challenges, Today’s Gospel reminds us that no matter what worries we have, God is always with us. I read recently that Paris Hilton was trying to tone her flaunting of money down a little bit – apparently proclaiming that you blessed with endless money isn’t as popular as it used to be: most people count both their blessings as well as the few dollars they are able to save each week.

In the eyes of the world, many people do not have much to give thanks for. I’m not poor, but I’m certainly not rich. I lack many of those things that TV says will make me complete. I don’t own a huge house or have an enormous bank account. I don’t have a perfect body or perfect friends. But like you, I do have a God who loves us all so much that he is willing to die for us and rise again so that nothing can ever separate us from his love.

Today we have gathered together to celebrate the Great Thanksgiving. We celebrate that Jesus died for all of us so that none of our sins or shortcomings can separate us from his love. We celebrate that Jesus rose for all of us so that none of us – not one of us – has to ever worry about the sting of death ever separating us from God or each other. And we celebrate that Jesus has ascended to the Father’s house where he is preparing a room for each and every one of us.

This Thanksgiving, don’t just take a moment to give thanks to God and a moment to help out someone who doesn’t seem to have as much to be thankful for. Don’t do that. This Thanksgiving take the opportunity of opening your heart to the love of God permanently. Know that God’s love conquers all of our fears and worries and give thanks to God that he loves us all, not just one day a year or one day a week, but throughout all of our lives and through death into eternal life.

Take that opportunity go out into the world and help others who are in need every day of the year. If you feel like volunteering, do it. But also mark your calendars for a day in January or February to do it again. If you feel like giving money. Do it. But don’t let your generosity be limited to those times a year when you are celebrating something. Use every day of the year as a day to thank God for his unending love. Use every day of the year as a day to show someone else that love by acts of love and mercy for all people.

Note for all sermons: The text published here and what was actually preached from the pulpit may vary considerably. Think of this version as the published draft.