Abstract
This month many of us celebrate Harvest with thanksgiving for the fruits of the earth. Through the lectionary readings this month I found a thread of gratitude which encompassed more than just a seasonal thanks for harvest.
Eternal God
you crown the year with your goodness
and you give us the fruits of the earth in their seasons:
grant that we may use them to your glory, for the relief of those in need
and for our own well-being:
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
But how much more do we have to thank God for and how do we show our thanks?
Some quotations from this month’s lectionary readings
The Lord is my Portion, says my soul. (Lamentations 3)
Paul says to Timothy, ‘I am grateful to God – whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day” (2 Timothy)
Do you thank the slave for doing what was commanded? (Luke 17)
Bless our God, you peoples;
Make the voice of his praise be heard;
Who holds our souls in life, and will not allow our foot to slip. (Psalm 66)
Oh how I love your Law! (Psalm 119)
The leper who came back. (Luke 17)
When we pray, how much of our prayer is of thanks, and how much is requests for help?
How do we feel when someone thanks us?
How do we feel when we are taken for granted?
How can we show our thanks to others besides using words, and what are our reasons for saying thank you?
How can we show our thanks to God as well as in prayer?
Psalm 103 Contemporary English Version
1With all my heart
I praise the
and with all that I am
I praise his holy name!
2With all my heart
I praise the
I will never forget
how kind he has been.
3The
heals us when we are sick,
and protects us from death.
4His kindness and love
are a crown on our heads.
5Each day that we live,
he provides for our needs
and gives us the strength
of a young eagle.
6For all who are mistreated,
the
7He taught his Law to Moses
and showed all Israel
what he could do.
8The
He is kind and patient,
and his love never fails.
Its all very well saying thank you to God
For the gifts we are given each day.
But what is the point if we don’t use them well,
Just destroy them and throw them away.
This earth gives us all that we need to exist,
Food, water, medicine and light.
And what are we doing?
We’re wasting these gifts.
Now surely that can’t be right.
Our world is split into ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’
The rich and those faced with starvation.
But if we learned to share equally all that we have
Then there’d be no deprivation
So lets strive for the rights of those people in need
And treat everyone as our neighbour;
Then the whole world will thrive and we can rejoice
As we see the results of our labour.
Creator God,
we thank you for the blessings of this season of Harvest, for the food on our tables,
For those who have worked through the year to provide it by sowing, cultivating and harvesting it
For those who have prepared and transported it to the point of sale, and to those who work in shops and supermarkets, often for long and unsociable hours.
Help us to appreciate their labours.
But we remember those who do not have enough to eat, who are suffering from famine and crop failure,
those who cannot afford to feed their families and depend on the kindness of others,
those who have no homes or families to care for them.
May we who have plenty, share with those in need by looking after our neighbours and supporting the charities that offer help.
Caring God
we thank you for our family and friends who accept us as we are, despite our faults and disabilities, who care for us when we are sick or sad even when they are tired themselves and who are always there when we need them
We thank you for the doctors and nurses, the caregivers and volunteers who are often taken for granted or unseen. Help us to remember to thank them and treat them with the courtesy they deserve
God of Justice
we thank you for the people in power who use their position to work for justice and peace in a world beset by greed and war. Give us the courage to raise our voices against cruelty and prejudice and to offer comfort and help in your name to those who are persecuted. Bless those who willingly put themselves in danger when they go to the troubled places and keep them safe.
Sharing God,
give us the humility to recognise and accept the wonderful gifts you have given us and the generosity to share them with others
Amen
All loving God,
You care for us as our parent, guiding us in your ways and teaching us through your Son to love others as you love us.
Give us the grace to show that love to all we meet, whether friend or foe and by sharing let us show our thanks to you.
Give us the determination to protect your world and preserve it for coming generations
Give us the courage to stand up for justice despite the cost to
ourselves and to follow the example of our Saviour Jesus Christ
Amen.
“Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God our Lord, and by this means, save his soul.” (St Ignatius of Loyola)