This passage from Paul’s letter to the Colossians really doesn’t look like it has much to do with Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time when we, as American citizens, give thanks to God for the blessings that He has showered upon us. It’s that time when we dress up pre-schoolers to look like the first settlers as well as the Native Americans who were already living off of the abundance of this land. It’s a time when we give thanks to God alone for protecting and preserving the early Americans as they faced difficult times and harsh climates. And it’s the time that we set aside to give thanks for the continued blessings that the Lord gives – especially the many successful harvests that sustain our earthly bodies.

That’s why the passage above doesn’t seem to be one of those typical Thanksgiving passages. It doesn’t mention anything about giving thanks to the Lord, and it doesn’t even mention a single thing about the earthly blessings we have received. This is the time of the year to give thanks…the time of the year to sing songs of thanksgiving and praise. But I beg to differ. This passage has everything to do with Thanksgiving.

Throughout the Church year we set aside seasons in which to focus on various aspects of God and what He has done for His people. In fact, Thanksgiving is always just before the beginning of another Church year.

The new Church year is a Christian journey that begins with Advent; and I can’t think of a better place to begin than with the Advent of the Christ – the promised Messiah. From there we celebrate the arrival of our Lord as well as the celebration of the Epiphany. Soon afterwards, we find ourselves humbled in the season of Lent as we prepare to walk with Christ to the Cross of Calvary, and rejoice in the empty tomb at His resurrection. Of course, it does not end there. Our journey continues to the mount where we witness the ascension of the King of kings – which then brings to the end of what we call the festival time of the Church year.

This first half of the Church year is filled with a vast number of reasons to celebrate, and yes, give thanks. But that is only half of the Church year. The largest section of the Church year is the season of Pentecost. It begins with the celebration of Trinity Sunday – the celebration of Pentecost – the time when the Holy Spirit was given to God’s people in Christ Jesus in order to lead them on their continued journey.

Because Thanksgiving is primarily an American holiday, it really isn’t considered a part of the Church year itself; but it sure is a reminder of the new life we live and the journey we will once again travel. Yes, Thanksgiving is about giving thanks to the very God who sustains us and gives us an abundance of earthly gifts. But it also has all to do with the treasure of Jesus Himself and the treasures we are given through Him. It has all to do with the treasures of forgiveness, hope, and eternal life given to people who were once seen as nothing more than sinful, hopeless, and destined for eternal despair. It has all to do with the new life that we now live in the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Lord and King – Jesus Christ. And it also has everything to do with the fact that we now live our lives every day in the season of Pentecost – the season of the Holy Spirit.

Thanksgiving leads to all of these treasures given by God in and through Jesus Christ. Thanksgiving even calls us back to give thanks for the Great Comforter - the Holy Spirit Himself, as He now leads us to live lives of thankfulness and praise. Which brings us back to that passage above; because with the new lives we have been given by Christ, and the new lives we live with His Spirit leading us – we can all say with Paul that our purpose is that others may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

It is my prayer that this Thanksgiving may be a blessed one for all of you. I give thanks for all of you; and I pray that - as we live our lives in the season of the Holy Spirit – He will lead you to share the treasures you have been given by our heavenly Father…especially the treasure of Jesus.

TREASURE OF JESUS

Lyrics: Steven Curtis Chapman

What can I do

How can I live

To show my world

The Treasure of Jesus?

What will I take

What could I give

So they can know

The Treasure He is?

If I can sing

Let my songs be full of His glory.

If I can speak

Let all my words be full of His grace.

And if I should live or die

Let me be found pursuing this prize –

The One that alone satisfies –

The Treasure of Jesus.

God’s peace to all of you; and Happy Thanksgiving!

Saved to serve,

Pastor Kurt