Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 29: Year 2
AM Psalms 131, 132, [133]; PM Psalms 134, 135;
Zechariah 13:1 to 9; Ephesians 1:15 to 23; Luke 19:11 to 27
“I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1: 16)
Of these readings for a normal Thursday I thought how fitting for the thankfulness of this verse. Today is Thanksgiving Day. These words express being thankful, specifically for people in our lives. This is a good point. The thanks still goes to God, but it is being thankful for people God has brought to us or put in our path. Sometimes we don’t see the blessing right away. But they are in our lives for a reason. Many people come to me and asks to be remembered in my prayers. And I do pray for them. I ponder about any irritation I might experience from some people but still I hold them in my prayers. Sometimes my prayers come in the form of a question to God. I ask God, “What grace are you sending me through this person?” I am shown. And when shown, I give thanks to God.
Daily Office Readings for Thanksgiving Day
AM Psalm 147; Deuteronomy 26:1 to 11; John 6:26 to 35;
PM: Psalm 145; Joel 2:21 to 27; 1 Thessalonians 5:12 to 24;
“You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.” (Joel 2: 26)
Joel 2: 21 to 27 appears in both, our Daily Office Readings, and the Eucharistic Readings for Thanksgiving Day. Perhaps this happens because of the invitation to, “eat in plenty and be satisfied,” words. However, the words that follow are even more important; “and praise the name of the Lord your God.” I once had a bumper sticker which read, “Don’t criticize the farmer with your mouth full.” The same holds true for God. If we are eating anything we should give thanks to God. I once was sharing lunch with a mother and her child. The young man was accustomed to me saying the blessing before eating. At one lunch we started with milk shakes. The child waited and was disappointed when I slurped some of my shake before saying the blessing. When his mother informed me about this I was really taken aback. But I learned and now blessings come before anything at all going into my mouth. I learned from that child to really praise the name of the Lord without fail; not just Thanksgiving Day, but every day, no matter how small the food item might seem. The young folks are watching us and I am thankful for God speaking to me through them. A blessed milkshake is also plenty and satisfying. Happy Thanksgiving!
Let us hear what the Spirit is saying to, and through, the saints of God, and then ponder anew what the Almighty can do. John
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