What Is The Essence of Thanksgiving?

Rev. Fr. Stan William Ede

There shall be heard the voices of those who sing as they bring thanksgiving to the house of the Lord. For the Lord will bless them and restore their fortunes. (Jer.33: 11)

The Psalmist does not mince words each time he acknowledges, resounds and re-echoes the fact that the Lord is Good. This is actually an immensity of Goodness which is of an immeasurable magnitude and which demands reciprocity. Thus, we hear those words: “O give thanks to the Lord for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever” (Ps. 100:5; 118:1; 2 Chron. 5:13; Ezra 3:11).
Everyday of our life elapses with the manifestation of God's mighty hand enwrapping us in peace and progress. We experience myriads of blessings, which flow from the superabundant benevolence of God. For all these, it is pertinent to “sing aloud songs of thanksgiving, and enact activities to the Lord in thankful praise, announcing his wondrous deeds to all peoples” (cf. Ps. 26:7).
As commonly used as the term “thanksgiving” is, its real meaning and essence remain elusive to so many minds. Its integral dynamics remain underwritten and underplayed by so many people, and the end result is that many people do not engage in practically expressing appreciation or making thanksgiving, while some people carry out acts of thanksgiving without actually rendering thanks. It is pertinent to state from the onset that it is a serious human tragedy for a person to dissociate himself from this excellent and priceless pearl of life, which thanksgiving really is.
It behooves us therefore to examine what 'thanksgiving' is all about, its importance as well as the exercise of it.

THE MEANING OF THANKSGIVING
In its simplest ordinary dictionary definition, “Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude, especially to God”. It is a way of valuating an act of kindness or favour received especially from God, and is best described with the invitation: “O come let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation as we come into his presence with gifts of thanksgiving” (Ps 95: 12).
Dramatically expressed, the meaning of the term 'thanksgiving' is to be found in the example of the Assyrian, Naaman who after he had been cured from his leprosy returned to the prophet, Elisha with “an offer of gifts” (2kgs 5: 15). In the same way, the great king Nebuchadnezzer of Babylon fell at the feet of Daniel and offered many great gifts because his dream was interpreted (cf. Dan 2: 1-48). For as it were, whoever makes an offering of thanksgiving, proves himself a virtuous person and glorifies the Lord (cf. Ps 50:23).
As a matter of fact, 'thanksgiving' from the foregoing, becomes very clear as an act of giving thanks, or rather, a public acknowledgement of Divine Goodness and Mercy. Because of His marvelous deeds and benefits to us, God is superabundantly thanks-worthy, that is, ultimately deserving of our thanks even up to the most momentous ultimacy.

PURPOSE AND IMPORTANCE OF THANKSGIVING
When we look at the starry skies over us, the movement of the tides, the brilliance and luminousity of sunlight and moonlight, the dynamism of the various forms of life all around us, the beauty and course of nature, and the wonder of our own life itself, when we consider how weak and limited we are yet constantly being strengthened and nourished by God, our all-loving Father, we shall come to discover that the nobility and import of expressing gratitude through thanksgiving cannot be overemphasized.
God has been gracious to us, for he has let the earth yield its fruit and has blessed us with increase (cf. Ps 67:2,6). He will continue to bless us as long as we show gratitude for past favours received; for by that, He will be pleased with us and will make his blessings ever new in our lives. The gratitude people show for what happens to them via the mercy of God is a noble undertaking and the blessings it engenders or brings to those who do so is incalculable. Those who keep the law of the Lord make straight his path (cf. Is 40:3; Mk 1:3) and they sing his praises by bringing thank offerings to the house of the Lord (Jer 17:26), for anyone who joyfully brings gifts of thanksgiving to the Lord's house will be abundantly blessed (cf. Jer 33: 11).
The thanksgiving offering of the people of God today is joined with the most ancient practices of glorifying God through sacrifices of thanks. The people of Israel “celebrated the dedication of the city wall in Jerusalem with rejoicing, with thanksgiving and with singing” (Neh. 11: 10-19; 12:27). This is in keeping with the command of the Lord on the regulations concerning offering and sacrifice (Lev 22: 17-33). It is rather explicitly emphatic that such offering is for the individual's own good, for as it is written: “When you sacrifice a thanksgiving offering to the Lord, you shall do it with all your heart so that it may be acceptable on your behalf” (Lev 22 :29).
The quality of thanksgiving to be rendered is not without mention. For it to be acceptable, it must be whole, complete and good (Lev 22: 19-20). If we have to live up to the commandment of the Lord therefore, thanksgiving must become for us, a realistic personal acknowledgement of the Lord's goodness, emanating from a sincere heart and which is alive in God.
Everyone who expresses gratitude must give as he has made up his/her mind, not reluctantly or selfishly but cheerfully for “God loves a cheerful giver” (Sir 20:10-15; 2Cor 9:7). St. Paul exhorts us further on this saying, “Anyone who sows sparingly will reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will reap bountifully” (2 Cor. 9:6). To drive home the truth regarding the irreducible significance of thanksgiving, St. Paul further writes: “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the harvest of your righteousness and produce. You will be enriched in everyway for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us” (2 Cor. 9: 1 0-11).
If we have to keep enumerating the factors that enwrap the importance of thanksgiving, we can continue “ad infinitum”. However, we can humbly and submissively sum it all up with the song of the Psalmist, "How can I repay the Lord, for his goodness to me? I will pay my vows, give my gift offerings to the Lord in the presence of all his people" (Ps. 116: 1 2, 14).
THANKSGIVING: SPRINGBOARD FOR A FULFILLED LIFE
According to Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta, “The less you have the more you give seems absurd, but it is the logic of love”. This all-encouraging message is complimented by St. Jose-Maria Escriva with the words: “An authentically lived life is measured by the magnitude of appreciation one shows and renders for favours received from God, for when anyone gives from what he has, even more will be added unto him”.
To enunciate the spice which thank-offering renders to life, St. Paul urges that all should be involved in making supplications, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings for themselves and for everyone (cf. 1 Tim 2: I), We must therefore follow the trail blazed by Jesus Christ himself who gave worthy thanks to God when he multiplied loaves and fish (In 6: 11,23), and at the raising of Lazarus from death to life (In 11 :41-42), and at the institution of the Holy Eucharist in the Upper Room (Matt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-21).
The early Christian community led by the Apostles carried on this practice of thank-offering and many of them had to give up their possessions for the common good of the people of God (Acts 4:32-37). All these experiences are a pointer to the fact that there can be no life satisfactorily lived without a mutual show of thanks to God for all the benefits one receives from him everyday of his life.
The history of the followership of God in faith is fraught with examples of thanksgiving acts, which bring fulfillment and further blessings to the persons involved. When Noah and his family survived the destruction of the world with flood, they offered gifts of thanksgiving (cf. Gen 8:20); after his victories in battles, Abraham offered thanks to God through the great priest, Melchizedek, King of Salem (Gen 14:20). Others include, Moses and the Israelites after they were delivered from bondage in Egypt (cf. Ex 13: 1-16); David and the chosen people of God offered thanksgiving when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Sam. 6: 1-23); as well as numerous other examples, which all join to become a sign of a happy union with God here and hereafter.
For this reason, the words of the Psalmist resound again and even more, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for His steadfast love endures forever” (Ps 118: 1). Here forth is the invitation to all of us in songs of joy that cuddle the heart in the form of heavenly dove: “O come let us sing to the Lord and approach his presence with gifts of thanksgiving, for the Lord is a Great King above all the world (cf. Ps 95: 1-2).
When we offer sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving, we glorify and please God who in turn enriches us with multifarious graces and blessings to live virtuous lives and attain fulfillment in our daily experiences of earthly life, at the end of which Heaven will be our ultimate reward. May the Lord of the Harvest enrich us with grace and life's fulfillment, and inspire us as well, to approach His courts with noble thank-offerings. And may His Word abide in our hearts forever, Amen.