Things to Consider – Harvest Thanksgiving – Sunday, October 27, 2024

Brothers & Sisters,

 God’s word encourages us to give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18), which means that every day should be a day of thanksgiving.  However, there are special occasions when Thanksgiving seems to be the natural and most appropriate response.  Harvest Festival, which is being celebrated at the Church of St. John the Evangelist today, is one such occasion.  In this celebration it is God who is being honoured for his goodness, and as the Psalmist suggests we must honour him with our substance.  It is very important that we understand that genuine thanksgiving requires more than words.  One writer suggests that “there can be no thanks without giving” which means that our words must be supported by our deeds.  Gratitude must be accompanied by generosity to make the act of thanksgiving complete. 

Another occasion when Thanksgiving is most appropriate is National Heroes Day which was observed last Monday.  In addition to remembering our National Heroes and a host of others who had received honours in the past for their contribution to the development of our nation, we used the day as an occasion to hand out a variety of National Awards to new persons, thus adding to our national honours list.  We congratulate those who were honoured at the Official Ceremony at the National Arena. 

As a further occasion of thanksgiving, we need to renew the practice of honouring persons who have served the church in specific ways over the years.  The selection process is a sensitive issue, and often quite difficult, but the sensitivity and the difficulty should not be allowed to stand in the way of this worthwhile expression of gratitude.  Whoever said that thanks would always be easy? What we do know is that it is in accordance with God’s will, and so it is pleasing in God’s sight. 

Give thanks always,

Contributed