Thanks Be To God
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle C
Once upon a time there was a woodcutter who spent the majority of every day in the woods. He knew every trail and basically every inch of the forest. One day the woodcutter was preparing to fell a tree when he heard a cooing sound not far away. He followed the sound and found two white doves that were caught in a wooden trap. He felt sorry for the birds and thus opened the trap door and allowed them to fly to freedom. He then returned to his job of felling the tree and forgot all about the birds.
As the days and even years went by, the woodcutter fell in love and married the woman of his dreams. The couple moved to a small city ten miles from the forest where they began to raise a family. Twenty-five years passed quickly and though he prospered in his new work in the city, the woodcutter was at heart a man of the forest. Thus, one day he kissed his wife and children good-bye and went off to the forest, saying that he would return by supper time the next day.
The ten-mile journey seemed like only a few hundred yards to the woodcutter, so excited was he at the prospect of returning to his roots. He instantly recognized the old pathways he had earlier walked and saw a few old and gnarled trees that were just where he remembered them. He walked about, moving further and further into the forest. After some time he realized that he was lost. This had never happened to him before, and he was a bit afraid. He continued to walk until dark came. He figured he would have to bed down for the night on the ground, but then he saw a light and followed it to a small cottage. He knocked on the door and after a few moments the door opened from the inside. Standing behind the door was the strangest woman the woodcutter had ever seen. Her skin was whiter than snow, but her eyes shone like burning coals. Her long black hair flowed below her waist. "May I help you?" the woman asked. "I am lost, cold, and hungry," the woodcutter replied. The woman invited him in and, although uncomfortable, he accepted the invitation, for the food on the stove smelled wonderful and he had no place to go. The woman offered him a meal and he ate everything in sight. He wanted to thank his hostess, but when he turned about he did not see her. Instead he heard a hissing sound and from the corner of the room he saw a huge black snake approach. When the serpent reached him, it raised up on its tail and looked at him. The snake had the face of the woman. "You have returned at last," hissed the snake. "I have waited 25 years for you. Do you remember the two doves you set free? They were going to be my dinner. When I saw you release them, I swore an oath that I would one day kill you." "I did not know they were yours," said the woodcutter. "If you had said something, I would never have opened the trap." "Then you admit that you set them free. I have the right man," the serpent hissed. "Tonight at midnight I will kill you." "Is there anything that can save me?" asked the woodcutter. "Yes," said the snake. "If the bell in the old church tower rings twelve times before midnight, you will be set free."
The woodcutter was filled with fear and began to panic. He wanted to escape, but the house was locked up tightly; there was no way out. As he slumped on the floor, the woodcutter thought of his wife and family. He had been a fortunate man and now his life was to end. After a long time, the woodcutter looked at the clock on the wall; it read five minutes to midnight. The snake stood ready to strike, but in the distance could be heard a faint sound; the church bell was ringing. It rang and rang -- nine, ten, eleven, twelve times. With the last peal of the bell, the house and the snake disappeared. With no place to go, the woodcutter, grateful for his reprieve from death, curled up in a soft place and went to sleep. The next morning he made his way toward the old church. When he arrived, he found the stairs to the belfry and climbed to the top. As he peered at the old bell, he noticed small spots of blood. On the floor of the bell tower he found many feathers and then the bodies of two white doves. They had thrown their tiny bodies at the bell twelve times in order to free the woodcutter, repaying him for their rescue by his hand so many years earlier. The woodcutter quickly picked up the doves. Their bodies were bruised and broken, but they were alive. He ripped his shirt and wrapped the small creatures tenderly. He stayed with the doves, feeding and nursing them until they were once again healthy. Then one morning he opened the church door and again set the birds free. The woodcutter then returned to his wife and children and all lived happily ever after.1
The story of the woodcutter and the doves demonstrates the need for gratitude in our lives. The doves were so grateful that they had been freed that they were willing to die in order to assist the woodcutter, who, in turn, was grateful for their totally unselfish action and nursed them back to health. This story, our lesson from Deuteronomy, and the national holiday we celebrate suggest that we must always demonstrate gratitude in our lives, to one another and most especially to God.
The Hebrews sojourned in the desert for forty years due to their disobedience and lack of faithfulness, but God never forgot or abandoned them. In order for the people to demonstrate in some way that they, despite their past inconsistency, wanted to follow Yahweh, the Lord instructs the people, as we hear in the reading, how they are to celebrate the harvest and the goodness of God to them. This festival will be a sign of their commitment to God and a realization that all the blessings of the Israelite community have their origins in God.
Scripture scholars suggest that this passage from Deuteronomy refers to the spring festival of Azymes, which was established in the new "promised" land as a way to demonstrate faith and thanksgiving. In opposition to the fertility cults that dominated the land when the Israelites arrived, and the practices that gave thanks to the gods for the fruitfulness of the earth, Yahweh asked his people to demonstrate that the fruitfulness of the land comes from the one eternal God. The possession of the land and its fruitfulness is the fulfilment of God's divine promise. God's faithfulness to the people requires the community as a whole and its members individually to respond in praise and thanksgiving.
In a similar way we all recall from our grammar school history lessons the story of the first Thanksgiving. The first year for the Pilgrims in Massachusetts was very hard. All suffered greatly and many died. The preparation of the land, creation of a community, and the need to find peace with the native peoples took a toll on those first residents of Plymouth Colony. Yet, despite the hardship, failures, and problems, the people possessed great faith and realized their need to give thanks to God who had provided all the opportunities and possibilities of their new lives, as well as the fruit of the land.
It is no secret to any of us that the United States is a land of great plenty that has been blessed by God in numerous ways. One might rightly ask, why are any of us so privileged to be born here or for others to have emigrated to America's shores? Why after the end of the Cold War is the United States the only world super power? Yes, we have our problems, but relative to all other nations, the obstacles and difficulties we face are minor, compared with our brothers and sisters in most lands.
The needs of the peoples of the world cry out to us and we must respond. The United States has been generous in its support of other nations, but there is a need to do more. We live in a land of plenty, but despite the plentitude there are some among us who need our assistance today. The response in our local community to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged has been good, but again we can most assuredly do more. As a community of faith, as individuals who seek to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, are we not obligated to assist others? Can any of us think of a better way to give thanks to God for the privileges and material possessions we have than by sharing with others? Distributive justice is the term used to describe an environment where those who have an abundance can share with those who have too little. Should not this basic premise of social justice become a hallmark of the way we do business in our personal, corporate, and religious lives?
The abundance that we as Americans enjoy should cause us to pause and reflect upon what is truly important in life. We have opportunities, talent, material possessions, and time. We live in a land of freedom -- politically, religiously, and socially. With all that we have the big picture might be lost, but a series of short stories can bring us back to earth as to what is most important in life.
On the battlefield a chaplain encountered a wounded soldier lying in pain in a foxhole. "Would you like me to read to you from this good book, the Bible?" The man could only respond, "I'm so thirsty." The chaplain dutifully ran off, found a canteen, and poured the soldier a drink of water. The wounded man was shifting around as if he were very uncomfortable. Thus, the chaplain found a bedroll and placed it under the man's head as a pillow. The soldier then began to shiver. Without thinking the chaplain stripped off his own field jacket and laid it over the wounded man. The soldier then looked the chaplain in the eye and said, "Now if there is anything in that book of yours that will allow a man to do more for another than you have already done, then please read it, because I would like to hear it."
Three students were discussing various versions of the Bible. One said, "I like the New American Bible. It is easier to read than the older versions." A second student commented, "I like the Jerusalem Bible. It too is easier to read and it is poetic in its style. I can use it in my daily prayer." The third student stood and said, "I like my mother's version the best. She translated the Bible into action so I can use it in my daily life."
An international gathering of youth met for a full week to discuss how better to promulgate Christ's message to the world. Those assembled for the conference read many informative essays, heard many fine speakers, watched a few videos, and had ample time to discuss with each other. As the conference was beginning to break up and the those attending were packing to leave, a young woman from East Africa arose and said, "In my country when we hear that a pagan village is ready to accept the Gospel we don't send books, videos, a Bible or even an evangelist. Rather we send the best Christian family we can find because we have found that the example of a good family speaks louder and more clearly than all the books, speeches, and videos in the world."
The truly important things in life are generally the intangibles, like the way we present ourselves to others. The one that is often forgotten and undoubtedly the most important is our faith. It is only through faith that we come together as a community to give thanks to God this day. It is our faith in peoples, institutions, and ideas which allows our society to progress. As we gather around the dining room table and celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones, sharing the produce of the land, let us be mindful of the great gifts God has given us. The words of a popular Christian hymn appropriately express what our feelings and attitude should be:
For the fruits of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while men are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safe keeping, thanks be to God.
-- F. Pratt Green
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Woodcutter and the Doves," in William J. Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999), pp. 31-33.
As the days and even years went by, the woodcutter fell in love and married the woman of his dreams. The couple moved to a small city ten miles from the forest where they began to raise a family. Twenty-five years passed quickly and though he prospered in his new work in the city, the woodcutter was at heart a man of the forest. Thus, one day he kissed his wife and children good-bye and went off to the forest, saying that he would return by supper time the next day.
The ten-mile journey seemed like only a few hundred yards to the woodcutter, so excited was he at the prospect of returning to his roots. He instantly recognized the old pathways he had earlier walked and saw a few old and gnarled trees that were just where he remembered them. He walked about, moving further and further into the forest. After some time he realized that he was lost. This had never happened to him before, and he was a bit afraid. He continued to walk until dark came. He figured he would have to bed down for the night on the ground, but then he saw a light and followed it to a small cottage. He knocked on the door and after a few moments the door opened from the inside. Standing behind the door was the strangest woman the woodcutter had ever seen. Her skin was whiter than snow, but her eyes shone like burning coals. Her long black hair flowed below her waist. "May I help you?" the woman asked. "I am lost, cold, and hungry," the woodcutter replied. The woman invited him in and, although uncomfortable, he accepted the invitation, for the food on the stove smelled wonderful and he had no place to go. The woman offered him a meal and he ate everything in sight. He wanted to thank his hostess, but when he turned about he did not see her. Instead he heard a hissing sound and from the corner of the room he saw a huge black snake approach. When the serpent reached him, it raised up on its tail and looked at him. The snake had the face of the woman. "You have returned at last," hissed the snake. "I have waited 25 years for you. Do you remember the two doves you set free? They were going to be my dinner. When I saw you release them, I swore an oath that I would one day kill you." "I did not know they were yours," said the woodcutter. "If you had said something, I would never have opened the trap." "Then you admit that you set them free. I have the right man," the serpent hissed. "Tonight at midnight I will kill you." "Is there anything that can save me?" asked the woodcutter. "Yes," said the snake. "If the bell in the old church tower rings twelve times before midnight, you will be set free."
The woodcutter was filled with fear and began to panic. He wanted to escape, but the house was locked up tightly; there was no way out. As he slumped on the floor, the woodcutter thought of his wife and family. He had been a fortunate man and now his life was to end. After a long time, the woodcutter looked at the clock on the wall; it read five minutes to midnight. The snake stood ready to strike, but in the distance could be heard a faint sound; the church bell was ringing. It rang and rang -- nine, ten, eleven, twelve times. With the last peal of the bell, the house and the snake disappeared. With no place to go, the woodcutter, grateful for his reprieve from death, curled up in a soft place and went to sleep. The next morning he made his way toward the old church. When he arrived, he found the stairs to the belfry and climbed to the top. As he peered at the old bell, he noticed small spots of blood. On the floor of the bell tower he found many feathers and then the bodies of two white doves. They had thrown their tiny bodies at the bell twelve times in order to free the woodcutter, repaying him for their rescue by his hand so many years earlier. The woodcutter quickly picked up the doves. Their bodies were bruised and broken, but they were alive. He ripped his shirt and wrapped the small creatures tenderly. He stayed with the doves, feeding and nursing them until they were once again healthy. Then one morning he opened the church door and again set the birds free. The woodcutter then returned to his wife and children and all lived happily ever after.1
The story of the woodcutter and the doves demonstrates the need for gratitude in our lives. The doves were so grateful that they had been freed that they were willing to die in order to assist the woodcutter, who, in turn, was grateful for their totally unselfish action and nursed them back to health. This story, our lesson from Deuteronomy, and the national holiday we celebrate suggest that we must always demonstrate gratitude in our lives, to one another and most especially to God.
The Hebrews sojourned in the desert for forty years due to their disobedience and lack of faithfulness, but God never forgot or abandoned them. In order for the people to demonstrate in some way that they, despite their past inconsistency, wanted to follow Yahweh, the Lord instructs the people, as we hear in the reading, how they are to celebrate the harvest and the goodness of God to them. This festival will be a sign of their commitment to God and a realization that all the blessings of the Israelite community have their origins in God.
Scripture scholars suggest that this passage from Deuteronomy refers to the spring festival of Azymes, which was established in the new "promised" land as a way to demonstrate faith and thanksgiving. In opposition to the fertility cults that dominated the land when the Israelites arrived, and the practices that gave thanks to the gods for the fruitfulness of the earth, Yahweh asked his people to demonstrate that the fruitfulness of the land comes from the one eternal God. The possession of the land and its fruitfulness is the fulfilment of God's divine promise. God's faithfulness to the people requires the community as a whole and its members individually to respond in praise and thanksgiving.
In a similar way we all recall from our grammar school history lessons the story of the first Thanksgiving. The first year for the Pilgrims in Massachusetts was very hard. All suffered greatly and many died. The preparation of the land, creation of a community, and the need to find peace with the native peoples took a toll on those first residents of Plymouth Colony. Yet, despite the hardship, failures, and problems, the people possessed great faith and realized their need to give thanks to God who had provided all the opportunities and possibilities of their new lives, as well as the fruit of the land.
It is no secret to any of us that the United States is a land of great plenty that has been blessed by God in numerous ways. One might rightly ask, why are any of us so privileged to be born here or for others to have emigrated to America's shores? Why after the end of the Cold War is the United States the only world super power? Yes, we have our problems, but relative to all other nations, the obstacles and difficulties we face are minor, compared with our brothers and sisters in most lands.
The needs of the peoples of the world cry out to us and we must respond. The United States has been generous in its support of other nations, but there is a need to do more. We live in a land of plenty, but despite the plentitude there are some among us who need our assistance today. The response in our local community to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged has been good, but again we can most assuredly do more. As a community of faith, as individuals who seek to follow in the footsteps of the Lord, are we not obligated to assist others? Can any of us think of a better way to give thanks to God for the privileges and material possessions we have than by sharing with others? Distributive justice is the term used to describe an environment where those who have an abundance can share with those who have too little. Should not this basic premise of social justice become a hallmark of the way we do business in our personal, corporate, and religious lives?
The abundance that we as Americans enjoy should cause us to pause and reflect upon what is truly important in life. We have opportunities, talent, material possessions, and time. We live in a land of freedom -- politically, religiously, and socially. With all that we have the big picture might be lost, but a series of short stories can bring us back to earth as to what is most important in life.
On the battlefield a chaplain encountered a wounded soldier lying in pain in a foxhole. "Would you like me to read to you from this good book, the Bible?" The man could only respond, "I'm so thirsty." The chaplain dutifully ran off, found a canteen, and poured the soldier a drink of water. The wounded man was shifting around as if he were very uncomfortable. Thus, the chaplain found a bedroll and placed it under the man's head as a pillow. The soldier then began to shiver. Without thinking the chaplain stripped off his own field jacket and laid it over the wounded man. The soldier then looked the chaplain in the eye and said, "Now if there is anything in that book of yours that will allow a man to do more for another than you have already done, then please read it, because I would like to hear it."
Three students were discussing various versions of the Bible. One said, "I like the New American Bible. It is easier to read than the older versions." A second student commented, "I like the Jerusalem Bible. It too is easier to read and it is poetic in its style. I can use it in my daily prayer." The third student stood and said, "I like my mother's version the best. She translated the Bible into action so I can use it in my daily life."
An international gathering of youth met for a full week to discuss how better to promulgate Christ's message to the world. Those assembled for the conference read many informative essays, heard many fine speakers, watched a few videos, and had ample time to discuss with each other. As the conference was beginning to break up and the those attending were packing to leave, a young woman from East Africa arose and said, "In my country when we hear that a pagan village is ready to accept the Gospel we don't send books, videos, a Bible or even an evangelist. Rather we send the best Christian family we can find because we have found that the example of a good family speaks louder and more clearly than all the books, speeches, and videos in the world."
The truly important things in life are generally the intangibles, like the way we present ourselves to others. The one that is often forgotten and undoubtedly the most important is our faith. It is only through faith that we come together as a community to give thanks to God this day. It is our faith in peoples, institutions, and ideas which allows our society to progress. As we gather around the dining room table and celebrate with family, friends, and loved ones, sharing the produce of the land, let us be mindful of the great gifts God has given us. The words of a popular Christian hymn appropriately express what our feelings and attitude should be:
For the fruits of all creation, thanks be to God.
For the gifts to every nation, thanks be to God.
For the ploughing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while men are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safe keeping, thanks be to God.
-- F. Pratt Green
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Woodcutter and the Doves," in William J. Bausch, A World of Stories for Preachers and Teachers (Mystic, Connecticut: Twenty-Third Publications, 1999), pp. 31-33.
