Thanksgiving is an ancient tradition. In England it was “Harvest Home,” the harvest festival that the pilgrims celebrated with their native friends. It is tragic that the relationship forged in the first hard years of Plymouth colony wouldn’t last as spiritual pilgrims gave way to colonists of political and consumerist aspirations. Harvest Home shares its roots with festivals common in cultures celebrating harvest and bounty.
Ancient Israel had its harvest festival as well; the feast of Tabernacles celebrated the harvest, and God’s provision in the wilderness. It also carried with it an apocalyptic expectation of the coming messiah.
Ray Orth preached last night at our Thanksgiving Eve service. He asked the question “Where does thanks begin?” Ultimately his answer was “at the foot of the cross.” It begins with the gift and the giver.
An important expression of thanks is as we partake in the gift. The image of sitting around the table and feasting on the fruit of the harvest should not be a picture of consumerist gluttony, but of a spiritual partaking in the gift, accepting it with thanks and celebrating.
