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Monday, November 20, 2006
Much More Than Pennies From Heaven
Malachi 3:8-12; Luke 6:32-38
Too easily, fear drives us to pinch every penny in hopes of not going broke in this expensive world. But today's scripture readings call us to do just the opposite -- to open our hands and our hearts in generous confidence. The bottom line: It's absolutely impossible to out-give God!
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GRATEFULNESS
As Thanksgiving approaches, I remember an article years ago in the magazine section of the Sunday newspaper. It was a woman's story of her automobile accident on another Sunday morning a year or so before.
She was driving alone through a rainstorm, heading up the coast on Highway 1. On a curve the car went tumbling down a steep embankment towards the surging ocean. Then it hit a mass of thick bushes and came to a jarring halt.
The woman was bruised and shaken, but alive. This was before cell phones, so she was all on her own down there, hidden from view in the falling rain, invisible to anyone driving by on that stormy deserted highway. Her story ended well with her climbing back up to the roadside, flagging down a ride, and finally returning home safely.
I remember all this now because she closed with a testimony of serene thankfulness for simply being alive. But she was unable to identify anyone to whom she could say her fervent "Thank You!" for that priceless gift.
It must be terrible to well up with such strong emotion, whether gratefulness or joy or wonder, and not know where to aim it. It's enough to make a body burst.
Many people say they especially like Thanksgiving because it's one holiday that has no ties to religious traditions. Try telling that to the Pilgrims, who came here for religious freedom and celebrated God's protecting care as they survived and settled in.
You and I, pilgrims too, are blessed to know the One to thank for every blessing big or small. In Jesus' story (see Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) we see the flesh and blood embodiment of God's generous loving care. He's our example, too, for generously sharing all the good we've received.
I'm convinced the surest evidence that you have received good gifts gratefully is when you're able in turn to give good gifts generously. Maybe the very first of those generous gifts is a heartfelt "Thank You!" to the Giver of every good and perfect gift!
According to the 14th century mystic Meister Eckhart, "If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice."
Happy Thanksgiving!
posted by Jack Buckley at
3:32 PM
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