The world around us believes—and always has believed—that happiness comes through power, through control, through wealth. The world teaches us that happiness is born of the ability to satisfy one’s own desires.
In the Church, however, we know a greater happiness, the happiness of thanksgiving. This does not mean giving thanks just for the things that we enjoy, the things that appeal to us, the things that satisfy our appetite and our self-conceit. Christian thanksgiving is the thanksgiving of St. John Chrysostom, who, dying in exile, unjustly persecuted, far from friends and homeland, departed this mortal life with the words: “Glory to God for all things!” Christian thanksgiving is the thanksgiving of St. Nikolai Velimirovic, who spoke of his time in Dachau concentration camp thus: “If it were possible, I would give the remainder of my life for one hour in Dachau.”
These are not expressions of masochism or stoic indifference, but rather expressions of thanksgiving born of true Christian experience, proceeding from a profound knowledge of man’s sinfulness and God’s infinite love. Because Christ, mounting the Cross, took on all the suffering caused by our sin in order to defeat sin and its ultimate consequence—death—suffering is forever transformed. When we suffer with thanksgiving, humility, and repentance, suffering relieves our sins and brings us near to God himself. More than this, suffering is the path beyond suffering, the path to life and resurrection.
Thanksgiving, the exclamation “Glory to God for all things,” has thus become a literal lifeline—this is how we cling to God amidst all the adverse circumstances of life. Then, even darkness becomes light, and bitterness becomes sweet, and the worst consequences of our sins become a pathway back to God. In this way, thanksgiving proves itself to be a power beyond any worldly power, a joy and nearness to God that is untouchable by any authority or means in this world.
Therefore, even as we give thanks for family, friends, for prosperity, for life’s simple joys—for God is the Giver of all these good things, too—let us also strive toward the truly Christian thanksgiving of the saints, the thanksgiving that recognizes all things as sent down from on high for the sake of our salvation.
As the Lord says to every Christian soul in the famous samizdat meditation attributed to St. Seraphim of Vyritsa: “Know and remember always, no matter where you are, that whatsoever hurts will be dulled as soon as you learn in all things to look at me. Everything has been sent to you by me for the perfection of your soul. All these things were from me.”
And because all things are from the Lord, therefore, we can truly and joyfully declare: “Glory to thee, O God, for all things!”
Once again, to all those who celebrate today’s holiday, happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely yours in Christ,
+Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
Source: OCA Website
