Here in America, we celebrate this time of year with a day of Thanksgiving. A time of gathering with friends and family, a time to help the less fortunate, a disruption of our normal weekly routine and perhaps some time to reflect upon our priorities and see where we are laying up our treasurers. At our cabin, it is also the time the grandkids decorate our Christmas tree!! And then of course unfortunately being followed by the greatest day of consumption, Retail Black Friday!
There is one less person celebrating this feast with us this year, our matriarch. And in that, a reminder that time, Chronos or created time, as we have been discussing in inquirers class, is slipping away from us, breath by breath. And for the fool in the Gospel reading this morning it seems that this rich man was just only almost thankful:“‘And I will say to my soul, “Soul, thou hast many good things being laid up for many years; be taking thy rest; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ [Lk. 12:19] But his time was up: “God said to him, ‘Fool, this night they demand thy soul from thee; and what thou didst prepare, for whom shall it be? [Lk. 12:20]
Saint Basil tells us: “Do not sell at high prices and take advantage of those in want. Beware of waiting for a famine before you open up your storehouses. Do not look to famine to make money, nor to the common want for your private gain. Do not become a dealer in human misery. Do not try to make money out of the anger of God. You with your eyes ever on money, do you never take a look at your fellow man? You know well the face of a coin, and you can tell a true from a false one, but you know not your brother in his time of need.” [Ib., III:328, § 3.]
We just can’t be almost thankful! Do you know what I mean? When is enough, enough? Are we ever satisfied? If I just had a little more, I could…. Of course, isn’t that the same way we remember our sinfulness, I’m not that bad, or thank goodness I don’t behave like ole so and so? Each of us has a unique cross to bear. I don’t know how it is for you, but mine is very heavy and I usually drag it along behind me. Do you see the drag trail? St. Ambose of Optina tells us: “God does not create a cross for man. No matter how heavy a cross a man may carry in life, it is still just wood, from which man himself made, and it always grows from the soil of his heart.” And then when my knees begin to buckle, I turn and ask our all-merciful Lord to help. St. Innocent of Alaska speaking about carrying the cross said this, “When you bear your cross, “It is then that you will feel an indescribable delight, a wonderful inner peace and joy such as you have never experienced before, and at the same time you will feel an influx of spiritual strength; prayer will become easier and your faith stronger.”
Thankfulness then for a Christian is finding peace in our struggles as we surrender all that we are and will be to the Great Artificer as He sends His mercy upon us unworthy ones, and then not letting our money and stuff become idols while turning a blind eye to our brother.
St. Mark the Ascetic sums it up with this: “Bring before your eyes the blessings, whether physical or spiritual, conferred on you from the beginning of your life down to the present, and call them repeatedly to mind in accordance with the words: ‘Forget not all His benefits’ (Ps. 102:2). Then your heart will readily be moved to the fear and love of God, so that you repay Him, as far as you can, by your strict life, virtuous conduct, devout conscience, wise speech, true faith and humility - in short, by dedicating your whole self to God. When you are moved by the recollection of all these blessings which you have received through God’s loving goodness, your heart will be spontaneously wounded with longing and love through this recollection or, rather, with the help of divine grace.”
Fr. Gabriel Weller 11-30-2025
Comments will be approved before showing up.
