Musical Prelude and Service

Philippians 4:4-9 and Luke 17:11–19
How do we approach the idea of gratitude? The notion that we should say thanks or give thanks for
the generosity or kindness of others.
I presume most, if not all of us have memories of being instructed by parents to say thank you when
someone gives us something. Or we hold memories of encouraging our own children to say thank
you.
It’s part of a common teaching in our society. Most likely to some extent throughout the world.
Tell people you are grateful for their generosity; their kindness; their care.
But how do we move beyond the rote response of saying Thank You? And why is it important?
Is it for more than simply being polite and a good neighbour? A good friend?
In her book Grateful, Diana Butler Bass argues that nurturing a practice of gratitude carries with it
very positive health benefits, both mental and physical health benefits. But it also re-centers our
thinking and our response and perspective to the world around us.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice.
Paul is encouraging the churches in Philippi to approach gratitude for God’s work with rejoicing. To
respond to God’s gifts with joy.
So often in our world it is so much easier to question if we really have anything to be thankful for.
We can look at the larger picture. Climate change and the growing number of extreme weather
events leading to flooding, hurricanes; heat waves, drought, and wildfires. We hear of the armed
conflicts around the world; the incidents of violence fueled by anger, hatred and fear. On a more
personal level we can be struggling with the gut punches of health concerns; the loss of a loved one;
economic insecurity; hatred and oppression, marginalization and a society that tells you your opinion
or your voice, your rights are not as important as those of someone else.
All of these concerns; these issues are very real. But can we, should we let them overwhelm us or
leave us declaring there is nothing to be thankful for?
Let me make a small confession here. I need to constantly remind myself who the people sitting in
the church gathering that first heard this letter mostly were. If I am not careful, I find myself
centering my own typical church experience. I see the standard congregation I have generally been a
part of. There’s nothing wrong with that; but for the most part the people sitting in those pews have
been fairly well educated. They have mostly been, at the least, economically comfortable. Primarily
white. In recent years a majority of those attending church have been women. Not many have been
shall we say younger.
Now, I don’t want to dismiss the heartbreak and struggles, the challenges the people in those
congregations would be experiencing.
But let’s consider the people in first century Philippi. Probably a good mix of men and women from
most ages. Family units were very tight in that culture. Women were still quite predominant, but it
was also very much a patriarchal culture. For the most part, the people drawn to this new faith
community were slaves; or labourers and fishermen. That doesn’t mean there weren’t some people
from wealthier classes. They tended to be the ones who provided space for the home churches
where the communities gathered.
They were the cast offs from society. The people who were typically ignored or exploited.
Life expectancy was short, and those lives were for the most part dirty and brutal. Society promoted
a transactional ethos of quid pro quo. If you received a gift, or a favour, you were essentially in debt.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Paul is offering different vision of the world. A world of joyful gratitude and community. A community
of love and support.
A community that focuses on the beauty of life. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is
honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if
there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Life is all too often tragic and hard. We cannot escape that. But life is also filled with beauty. It is
filled with examples of truth and honour and Paul is calling us to let our gaze; our thoughts linger on
these things. Those things that are pleasing and commendable. Paul urges us to hold on to the
blessings we have received from God.
And we are called to think about what they are. To name them. It can be a useful spiritual practice to
actually name what we are grateful for. We can say, “I am so grateful for so many things”.
For friends; for community. I am grateful for my health. But I wonder if it makes a difference to get a
little more specific. I am grateful for my mother, Alice and my partner Ellie. I am grateful for my
doctor and my dietician who keep me on track and urge me to be disciplined in taking care of my
health, so I don’t take it for granted.
I am grateful for my education and my professors who nurtured in me a love for lifelong learning and
a passion for drama and history and biblical study.
And I am grateful for a congregation that gives me the opportunity to share the blessings of my
education and my vocation. A congregation that is willing to sit and listen to me reflect in this
manner.
Gratitude when we take time to focus on the beauty, the things that are good and commendable, can
move us to see the world with fresh eyes. It can shift our response to the world. And in our
gratitude, we can be motivated to share our blessings with the world; to share that despite the trials,
the challenges, the heartache that we have endured. This life is a gift from God, and I am grateful
that we are in this world together.

Music provided with permission through licensing with CCLI License number
2701258 and One License # A-731789