Thursday of Thanksgiving

In light of the conclusion of the Rogation of the Ninevites, and the cultural and religious significance these last three days bear on our Church and community, it is only fitting for our Church to teach us to continue to live in a worthy manner of repentance starting from the first day we break our fast. This is why the mother Church disciples us to understand the meaning of giving thanks to the Lord after the fast and has instated Thursday of Thanksgiving to remind us of what we have faithfully conquered through our last three days of abstaining. This day stands as an initial reminder that as we break our fast, we should not break or put an end to our piety.

Thursday of Thanksgiving is a timely reminder to the faithful of the Church that our righteous deeds of fasting and prayer over the last three days of the Rogation of the Ninevites, the repentant prayers and beseeching that we made before the Lord to have mercy on us sinners, should not be forgotten. Instead, in the passing shadow of the fast, we should be more mindful of the sins we have committed and besought forgiveness from God for. We should be reminded of the great mercy and forgiveness that God has offered us through the death, burial and resurrection of His Son; our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and continually be encouraged by the faith that our ancestors demonstrated to us through their repentance.

St. Paul exhorts believers to offer thanksgiving to the Lord for showing us His gracious mercy everyday by offering our lives as a living sacrifice to God:

“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1-2

The Apostle draws upon the typology of the Old Testament ways of worship, where an animal sacrifice was commanded of the Israelites to be given to the temple as an offering to God for the sins of the people. Today, as we live in the grace and forgiveness of Christ - our one and only sacrifice for our sins (Hebrews 10:11-14), we are commanded by St. Paul to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice to God. This is seen as true spiritual thanksgiving and worship and is what is acceptable to God.

In this post-fast time of our walk, let us continue to offer our lives to God as a living sacrifice in order to thank Him for the great mercy, love and forgiveness He has bestowed upon us His unworthy children. Let us not so easily forget the great spiritual fruits God has grown within us through the fasting and prayer we offered to Him over the last three days. And let us continue to live repentantly and in thanks to our mighty God as we meditate on the power of His mighty Cross daily, always being mindful of what He has offered us (John 3:16) so that we can always be thankful to Him.

This week’s Song: Psalm 95 – Sons of Korah