Excerpts from the brochure Glory to God for All Things, published by Bishop Alexander of South America.
There is a story about a protestant pastor who, in the course of visiting the sick, entered a mental hospital. There, apparently in a moment of lucidity, one of the patients approached the pastor and asked him, “Have you in any way given thanks to God for your reason?” The pastor was stunned by this unexpected question. No, it had never occurred to him to thank God for such an obvious gift. It was only here, standing in the midst of so many unfortunate and mentally ill persons in the mental hospital, that he understood that his intellect was a great gift from God! The pastor immediately promised the patient and himself that he would thank God daily for his healthy mental faculties.
This vignette from the life of the pastor illustrates a general characteristic of mankind’s attitude toward the good things of life, through which people have become accustomed to taking everything as their self-evident right. There are few people who thank their Creator, Who constantly cares for them and sends them countless material and spiritual good things.
St. John of Kronstadt writes, “No matter where I look with the eyes of my heart, whether within myself or without, everywhere I see good reasons to thank and glorify the Lord!”
Truly, our entire life is an unbroken chain of God’s blessings! He created the body, something better and more perfect than any machine or computer. He instilled in us this immortal, God-like soul to animate our mortal body, the soul which is precious and treasured above all else. He gave us reason, raising us above the animals; free will, through which we might physically and spiritually improve ourselves and direct our life to good; and the senses, with which we might enjoy God’s gifts and find happiness and joy in life…
Many become despondent and complain in times of trial. However, one must understand that the Lord sometimes permits us to experience troubles and sorrows not because He has forgotten us, or because He wishes to punish us. No! He allows them to occur, as a bitter but necessary medicine, a medicine to heal us of pride, absent-mindedness, excessive self-reliance, egotism, and other such failings. Recognizing this, St. John Chrysostom said at the twilight of his life, “Glory to God for all things, and especially for sorrows!”
We Orthodox people should thank God even more for making us worthy to be children of His true Church, which through the power of the Holy Spirit maintains the pure teaching of the Gospel, which enlightens and strengthens us with its grace-filled Mysteries. It is that Church to which belonged the prophets, apostles, martyrs, and all of the saints who both reside in the heavenly abode and together with us, their younger brothers, comprise the one, great, Family of God. It is that Church in which we are made worthy to commune of the life-giving Body and Blood of our Savior, which grants us immortality.
Thus, contemplating the paths of God’s providence in our lives, we see that it is not so much duty or obligation, but rather our entire being, our present and future life, that demands that we not remain insensitive to God’s blessings. One must add that it is not God, but we ourselves, who need our thanksgiving. In thanking God, we are reminded of His love for us, His constant care for us, and the sea of material and spiritual good things which He daily pours out upon us. This reminder enlightens our intellect, gives us the opportunity to understand more precisely the purpose of our life, and helps us to separate from what is of primary importance that which is of secondary importance.
Moreover, giving thanks to God causes our despondency to dissipate, removes our sorrow from us, returns to us courage and joy in being alive. Giving thanks to God may be compared to the warm rays of the sun penetrating into the dark cellar of the soul. The touch of the Spiritual Sun warms the soul, causing man to become kinder and better disposed to love.
Let us strive daily, and especially on Sundays, to offer thanks to our Creator and Savior. This will serve as excellent medicine for our souls!
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A Prayer of Thanksgiving |
Lord Jesus Christ our God, O God of every merciful kindness and compassion, Whose mercy is without measure, and Whose love for mankind is an unfathomable deep: Falling down before Thy greatness, with fear and trembling as unworthy servants, and now humbly rendering thanksgiving unto Thy loving-kindness for Thy benefits bestowed upon us, we glorify, praise, hymn and magnify Thee as Lord, Master, and Benefactor; and falling down again we offer thanks. We implore Thy boundless and ineffable merciful kindness, humbly praying, in that Thou hast now graciously vouchsafed to accept and to fulfill the supplications of Thy servants, so also grant that henceforth we might increase in true love of Thee, and of our neighbors, and in all of the virtues. And enable us to always thank and praise Thee, together with Thine unoriginate Father and Thy most holy and good and consubstantial Spirit. Amen.
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