What of It?!

“So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: "I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where He is there I shall be also!” 

(Letters of Spiritual Counsel, Letter to Jerome Weller, 1530)

Thanksgiving (2013 A.D.) ... A note to the congregation I serve ...

As our consumer culture pushes the Christmas (really Advent) season on us earlier each year, it seems that the holiday (Holy Day!) of Thanksgiving gets swept aside. And more, it becomes itself less an exercise in gratitude toward God - the One who made us, redeems us, and calls us His own. Instead, it can become at time for MERELY friends, family, football, and food. None of these things are evil; but let's put them in the context they deserve, blessings from the God who sustains us. Let us as His children celebrate Thanksgiving just a little differently than as just another commercial enterprise.

To that end I want to quote St. Paul: "We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing." (2 Thessalonians 1:3)

I am truly thankful for this family of Redeemer which God has called me to serve. I am thankful to see, as Paul describes above, "the love every one of you for one another" increase. I am thankful for connections and re-connections provided by time together in the Word, I am thankful that we can come together around Word and Sacrament and experience the presence of God, in Christ, right here at Redeemer. I am thankful for the gifts and talents of God's people here and our continued work together as we are joined to Christ's mission to 'seek and to save what was lost.' (cf. Luke 19:10) Please continue to pray for Redeemer and for what God would have us do and be.

I am thankful for forgiveness as I can and do err and sin too often. And so, I truly appreciate the quote cited above by Martin Luther. Thanksgiving is a perfect time to mock the devil as it is the very attitude and act of thanksgiving, regardless of our circumstances, that sets the devil to running.

And yes, I am thankful for family, friends, food, and football ... and forgiveness.

May your Thanksgiving Holiday be filled with joy, and gratitude for the gifts God so graciously gives.