Thanksgiving Day is Pilgrims’ tribute to God and gratefulness for His blessings

There is a story of a newly arrived soul who, upon entering Heaven, was met by St. Peter, who gave the soul a tour. Both of them walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with angels.

St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, “This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received.” The soul looked at the section, and it was busy with many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all the people of the world.

They walked again until they reached the second section, and St. Peter said, “This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are packed and delivered to the persons who asked for them down on earth.” The soul saw how busy it was. There were many angels working in that room, since so many blessing were being packed and delivered to Earth.

Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the soul’s surprise, only one angel stayed there, doing nothing. “This is the Acknowledging Section,” St. Peter told the soul.

“How is it that there is no work here?” asked the soul.

“That’s the sad thing,” Peter answered. “After the people received the blessings they asked for, very few send their acknowledgments.”

“How does one acknowledge God’s blessing?” asked the soul.

“Simple,” St. Peter said. “Just say, ‘Thank you, Lord.’”

More than 300 years ago, a small number of grateful Pilgrims gathered in prayerful tribute to God for an abundant first harvest. This launched a meaningful custom, which is one of our most cherished holidays, Thanksgiving Day.

This coming Thursday, as we celebrate Thanksgiving Day, it is an appropriate time for us to reflect on our blessings. It is a day to express our gratitude to Almighty God for his abundant gifts.

There is a traditional Orthodox liturgical prayer which reminds us that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from thee, the Father of Lights.” With this we can truly emphasize that there is no true prayer without thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving Day 1983, the Rev. Alexander Schmemann, dean of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, suffering with a terminal illness, celebrated his last Divine Liturgy in the seminary chapel. At the end of the Liturgy, he called upon all to give thanks to God with these words:

“Everyone capable of thanksgiving is capable of salvation and eternal joy.

“Thank You, O Lord, for having accepted this Eucharist, which is offered to the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and which filled our hearts with ‘the joy, peace and righteousness in the Holy Spirit.’

“Thank You, O Lord, for having revealed yourself unto us and for giving us the foretaste of your kingdom.

“Thank You, O Lord, for having united us to one another, in serving you and your Holy Church.

“Thank You, O Lord, for having helped us to overcome all difficulties, tensions, passions and temptations, and for having restored peace, mutual love and joy in sharing the communion of the Holy Spirit.

“Thank You, O Lord, for the sufferings you bestowed upon us, for they are purifying us from selfishness and remind us of the “one thing needed: your Eternal Kingdom.

“Thank You, O Lord, for having given us this country where we are free to worship you.

“Thank You, O Lord for this church where the name of God is proclaimed.

“Thank You, O Lord, for our families: Husbands, wives and especially children, who teach us how to celebrate your holy name in joy, movement and holy noise.

“Thank You, O Lord, for everyone and everything. Great are you, O Lord, and marvelous are your deeds, and no word is sufficient to celebrate your miracles.

“Lord, it is good to be here! Amen.”

May you have a blessed and prayerful Thanksgiving Day.

The Rev. Andrew D. Nelko is pastor of St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Campbell.