Nov 25, 2001

After all I have realized the importance of the Thanksgiving Day in America. This year the Day is very meaningful. I happened to hear about a family that should come together for the first time in 10 years. They are spread all over and are working very hard. Two of the family members used to work in the World Trade Towers but they survived because they were not there when the terror attack happened. This year the whole family would be together to celebrate life and give thanks for having each other. Blessings and difficulties bring people closer to their loved ones and to God. What we used to take for granted we now consider is an extra blessing. Many people have asked for God’s blessing and given thanks for clothing and food, home and family, job and health, peace and freedom, for faith and hope.

But we have to keep in mind that many are struggling with these things. When seated at the Thanksgiving dinner one chair is empty. A spouse, a child, a sister or brother, a good friend, a coworker is missed.

Many have no job and no income, many families are split, many people struggle with sickness and pain. There are so many that think they do not have their part of the cake. It is difficult to be grateful. The small part they have, they have worked hard to gain for themselves. Others have taken what was theirs. They feel more bitterness than thankfulness.

What about having faith in God in such emotional times? Is it possible to rely on God? Does it make sense to speak about God’s presence? Where was God the 11^th September 2001?

I received a mail dealing with this:

" I believe I have the answer. I know where my God was that morning. He was busy. First of all, he was trying to discourage anyone from taking this flight. Those four flights together could hold over 1000 passengers, in the end there were only 266 on board. He was on 4 commercial flights giving terrified passengers the ability to stay calm. Not one of the family members who was called by a loved one on the hi-jacked planes said that passengers were screaming in the background. On one of the flights He was giving strength to passengers to try to overtake the hi-jackers. He was busy trying to create obstacles for employees at the World Trade Center. After all, only around 20,000 were at the towers when the first jet hit. Since the building could hold over 50,000 workers, this was a miracle in itself. How many of the people who were employed at the WTC told the media that they were late for work or they had traffic delays?

Although this is without a doubt the worst thing I have seen in my life, I can see God’s miracles in every bit of it. I can’t imagine going through such a difficult time and not believing in God. Life would be hopeless."

The Gospel of today is about Jesus on the cross. He cried out: "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me? Maybe we can put the words in this way: He was forsaken in his deepest need in order that no human being should be forsaken. No tragedy and no need is able to separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.

In the Prayer of the Day we give thanks to God for His goodness and care every new day.

God’s blessing is something significant. It is not more of the kind we already have for ourselves. The Gospel is not a message saying – be good, get rich, praise God, get even richer! When we ask for God’s blessing, we are not asking for more of what we could get for ourselves. We are crying out for the wonderful, unlimited goodness that only God has the power to know and give to us. God is the Creator and source of all life and He provides for our deepest need, that is the gift of grace. That is the grace that makes us children of His kingdom.

Isn’t it great that God is like he is!

Isn’t it great to live in his world, even though man messes it up!

Isn’t great that God loves and cares for people like you and me!

Isn’t it great that God welcomes us into His kingdom!

Honor and thanks be to God, The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

Amen.

The Norwegian Lutheran Memorial Church ·  924 E. 21st St, Minneapolis, MN 55404-2952 ·  (612)874-0716