“All thy works shall give thanks to thee, O Lord, and all thy saints shall bless thee! (Ps 144:10).
One of the most beautiful traditions observed in North America (and not only) is the day of giving thanks, or Thanksgiving. Although it is celebrated at different dates and even months (the second Monday of October in Canada and the third Friday of November in the USA), this holy day brings the whole nation together, regardless of our multiple human differences, and, at least for a day (weekend), everyone is invited to offer gratitude and thanks to God Almighty.
The research studies tell us that this tradition originates with the first European settlers. As far as the exact year is concerned, there are different opinions but, in my opinion, this is secondary to the act itself. The Canadian version credits the English explorer, Martin Frobisher who, searching for a Northern passage to the Orient, ended up in Canada in 1578. Having survived such a long and difficult journey, this explorer, together with his remaining companions, had a formal ceremony and a meal, giving thanks to God. In 1879, Thanksgiving was officially recognized as a national Holiday. Throughout the years, the date was changed multiple times but, in 1957, it has been decided that "A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed... to be observed on the second Monday in October."
As Orthodox Christians, we believe that Man was created as a ”homo adorans,” a liturgical being. We read in the book of Genesis that the first two sons born to our forefathers Adam and Eve, Cain and Able, brought sacrifices (thanksgiving) to God (Genesis 4:3-4). The entire Scripture abounds in examples where people brought sacrifices of thanksgiving to God.
In the cleansing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:12-19), the Savior teaches us that gratitude/thanksgiving was due to God after the healing power has been bestowed upon the ten men: Seeing that only one of them returned ”and fell down on his face at the feet of Jesus, giving Him thanks” (17:16), Jesus asks: ”Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (17:17). Then, He says to the Samaritan: ”Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well” (17:19). It is pertinent to assume that all ten men were cleansed (healed), but only one (the Samaritan) was saved (completely restored) because he had not only faith, but gratitude, humility and respect. Gratitude is part of man’s character. True gratitude/thanksgiving is shown, not just said. It is visibly expressed, which means that it requires action.
The reason God wants us to be grateful/thankful is so we can turn our face towards Him and, with humility, offer Him prayer of thanksgiving, which is to our own benefit. In many occasions the Lord taught us to be thankful: before multiplying the bread and the fish, before raising Lazarus from the dead, at the Last Supper, when He instituted the Holy Eucharist (which in translation means thanksgiving), in the Garden of Gethsemane, etc.
The Epistles constitute an unceasing plea to give thanks to God: ”Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20); … ”but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6);
Generally speaking, Christians are thanks givers. However, the Orthodox Christians are ontologically thanks givers. On a daily basis, from sunrise to sunset, the Orthodox Church, through the richness of its beautiful and unequal worship, offers praise and thanksgiving to God Almighty. And all this culminates, on Feast days and on the Lord’s Day (Sunday), with the Divine Liturgy, the highest form of prayer man can offer to God. This is what the first prayer of the Anaphora says: “With worthiness and righteousness it is proper to sing to You, to bless You, to praise You, to offer thanks to You and to worship You in every place of Your dominion… For all these we thank you and Your only-begotten Son and Your Holy Spirit, for all known and unknown benefits and for those gifts manifested and unseen, which You bestowed upon us. We thank You also for this Liturgy, which You accepted from our hands…”
What is more beautiful and more meaningful to an Orthodox Christian than to partake in this uplifting and transforming moment when the priest (Bishop), lifting up his hands, invokes the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Eucharistic gifts (bread and wine), while all those present pray, singing: “We praise You, we bless You, we give thanks to You, O Lord, and we pray to You, O our God.”
So, on this national day of Thanksgiving, let us remember, with gratitude and thanksgiving, all the blessings the Good and Merciful God has bestowed upon us and upon our country Canada and follow the advice of St. Paul the Apostle, who says: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Col. 3:17).
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, CANADA!
Fr. George Bazgan
