Thanksgiving Eve

Eve of the National Day of Thanksgiving

November 22, 2023

Text: Luke 17:11-19

            “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks” (Luke 17:15-16; ESV).

            “Come, ye thankful people, come” (LSB 892:1)!  The Samaritan leper gets it.  Having been healed of his affliction, cleansed of his impurity, he knows there is only one place to be, rendering thanks and praise.  In the presence of Jesus.  In the presence of his salvation.  In the presence of his God. 

            “Come, ye thankful people, come.”  I admit it, it’s one of my favorite hymns.  THE Thanksgiving hymn, of course, is our hymn of the month, and tonight’s sermon hymn, “Now Thank We All Our God” (LSB 895), unquestionably one of the greatest of the Lutheran chorales.  That one is worth memorizing.  But this one, “Come, ye thankful people, come,” is a close second for me.  The hymnwriter connects our thanksgiving for this year’s crop harvest to God’s ingathering of His people. 

            Two images I find particularly striking as we celebrate Thanksgiving tonight, and as we meditate on the Last Things now at the end of the Church Year (eschatology, we call it in theology).  The first is this image of God gathering His thankful people into His presence here, in the congregation that sings His praise.  This is the Church on earth.  This is the reality here, now, tonight.  By His Word, the Holy Spirit has called you into the holy faith of Jesus, enlightened you with His gifts in Word and Sacrament, and He sanctifies you and keeps you by the same in the one true faith.  That is, He congregates you, here in His Church, to receive.  And, of course, what does such reception produce within you?  Thanksgiving and praise.  AND anticipation and expectation of more gifts.  Because you know this, your God, to be an ever-giving God, an unfailing fountain of good, who never stops pouring out upon you all things needful, and more. 

            You are right to see yourself in the Samaritan leper.  Having been healed of your afflictions (that’s what happens when Jesus applies the balm of His Gospel to your body and soul, speaking to you with the same voice that bid the lepers go and show themselves to the priests, touching you with the same flesh that gave sight to the blind and raised the dead)… having been cleansed of all your impurities (that’s what happens when Jesus says to you in preaching and Absolution, “Son… Daughter… Your sins are forgiven you!  Depart in peace!”)… and having received every good and perfect gift of the Father by the pierced hand of your crucified and resurrected Lord Jesus besides, you know that there is only one place to be, rendering thanks and praise.  In the presence of Jesus.  In the presence of your salvation.  In the presence of your God. 

            The Greek word for thanksgiving is Eucharist.  Where is it that you find yourself in the very presence of Jesus?  Where is it that you find yourself in the bodily presence of God?  At the altar.  At the Eucharist.  Fall on your knees before the One who makes you whole.  Like the Samaritan, prostrate yourself before the One who has given His very life, prostrated Himself in the grave, for your forgiveness, life, and salvation.  And what is the best way to give thanks to Him?  Come in all your afflictions, and in all your emptiness, to be healed by, and filled once again by Him, with Him.  That is why the Holy Communion is called Eucharist, Thanksgiving.  Because the best way to give thanks to God, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, is to acknowledge that all that He gives is good, and all good comes from Him; that He is your ultimate good, goodness in all its fulness; and that you are utterly dependent on Him every moment of your life for every need of body and soul.  The best way to give thanks to Him is to acknowledge that, and trust, and expect from Him, His perfect provision. 

            It’s actually not unlike Thanksgiving Dinner at Grandma’s house.  Maybe you are going to Grandma’s tomorrow for the feast, or perhaps you remember going to Grandma’s as a child.  Maybe you are the Grandma in whose home the family will gather, as you supply the table with all manner of good things.  Maybe you’ve never had such a Grandma, but that longing that tugs at you as you hear me describe it makes the point crystal clear to you.  How do we show our appreciation for Grandma?  Certainly not by turning up our nose at her mashed potatoes and cream corn.  Most assuredly not by refusing to come to her house, preferring other company and activities to the blessings she gives.  No.  We give thanks to her best as we take our place at her table, and relish every bite of goodness and love poured out for us there.  We are in her house, and in her presence.  We may sing her praises, detailing the virtues of this great good thing she has done for us.  But above all, we express our gratefulness when we hold up our empty plate and ask her for more.

            So it is with the Lord.  This is the place to be.  This is where He supplies the Table with all that is good.  This is His House.  This is His presence.  Here He is, for you, to fill your emptiness with ever more of Himself.  The Holy Spirit gathers us around this Lord, and these gifts.  And this is the first image I find so striking in our hymn. 

            The second image is like unto it.  It is the harvest, the ingathering, of God’s people by the holy angels on the Last Day.  All offenses are purged away.  This does, of course, mean Judgment.  The tares, the unbelievers, are cast into the fire with the devil and his demons.  That is tragic, and it is a warning to us all.  Those who are not thankful now, because they do not believe now, and therefore do not come now, will not come then into the presence of the Lord and the never-ending Feast.  But then the believers, the fruitful ears, are gathered into God’s garner evermore.  Risen from the dead, like unto their risen Lord.  Purified.  Free from sorrow.  Free from sin.  Well, beloved, you cannot imagine the joy there will be for you on that Day.

            But as it happens, this second image is not actually a different image than the first.  The first is, in fact, simply the beginning of the second.  The gathering for harvest is happening now, as you come, dear thankful people, into the Lord’s House, and to His Thanksgiving Feast.  Already raised spiritually (baptized into Christ).  Already being purified.  Already God is consoling you in your sorrows.  Already God forgives you all your sins.  All that is left is the full revelation of it all.

            We pray for that Day.  “Even so, Lord, quickly come” (LSB 892:4).  Marana tha.  Come, Lord Jesus.  Come among us with Your visible presence.  Then will be the eternal Feast.  Then all will be Eucharist, Thanksgiving.  “Surely I am coming soon,” says the Lord (Rev. 22:20).  In the meantime, you come, ye thankful people, and gather around the Table He has set.  And tomorrow, healed of all your afflictions, and cleansed of all your impurities, joyfully gather around your family tables, singing the Lord’s praises.  And Grandma’s, too.  In the Name of the Father, and of the Son X, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.