Homily for Year A, Thanksgiving: "Doers of the Word"

This sermon was preached on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2008 at Christ & Saint Stephen's Church. The lectionary readings this homily is based on can be found here.

Things are a little different on holidays here at Christ & St. Stephen’s. The Eucharist is at 10am, not at 8:30 or 11 as it usually is on Sundays. And not at 7pm as it often is on holy days. Our Brown Bag program runs a little early today as well. This morning at 10am, as we gather to celebrate the Eucharist, we’re distributing our rown bag lunches which are packed with a few extras in honor of the day: a second sandwich made with, of course, turkey and a cupcake.

I think it’s fitting that as we gather around this altar to give thanks for God’s abundance, our Brown Bag guests are also gathering to partake of the abundance which we share. Our Brown Bag meals are handed out every Monday through Friday all year long. And I’m glad for that. This day of all days we should make sure that whatever we have to share is given to those who need it.

In our epistle today, St. James tells us that those who are hearers of the word, but not doers of the word are like those who look at themselves in a mirror, and then forget what they look like. I know I’ve done that -- lots of times. Look in the mirror to make sure my tie is on straight (in my pre-clerical collar days) and instead, run my fingers threw my hair or notice the pen mark on my shirt and then look away, forgetting if I straightened my tie or not.

We get distracted; we’re sometimes dazzled by the appearance of things and forget about their deeper reality, their true meaning; we sometimes look for something, and then somehow, forget what it was that we were seeking.

In a few moments, we will celebrate a thanksgiving. The literal meaning of the Greek word Eucharist is thanksgiving. When we gather to remember Jesus and to commemorate the Last Supper -- we do so an offering of thanks, as a thanksgiving for our creation, salvation, and for all the blessings of this life, most especially for God’s immeasurable love for us in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ.

In the Eucharist we are doers of the word almost literally: “Do this in remembrance of me,” Jesus said, and so in a few moments, we will. In our Brown Bag program, we are doers of the word, sharing with those in need some of the abundance God has shown us. And in these things, we do as today’s Gospel commands us. We let the turkey and the football wait a bit, and we strive first for the kingdom of God and God’s righteousness.

When we do that, we can -- like the birds of the air and the lilies of the field -- wait upon the Lord -- and expect our heavenly Father, who knows all that we need, to provide for us sustenance in this life -- and salvation in the life to come.

~ Amen.

© The Rev. Mark Robin Collins