Our Gratitude for the Harvest
Indigenous peoples in what we call North America have a history of holding communal feasts in celebration of the fall harvest that predates colonialism. The European settlers brought with them a similar tradition of harvest celebrations for which their symbol was the cornucopia, or horn of plenty. The Jewish feast of sukkoth is a week long harvest festival at this time of year. And, all over the world in all cultures, societies give thanks for another year of plenty.
Some Canadian History
The first Thanksgiving by Europeans in North America, we are told, was held by Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew in the Eastern Arctic in 1578. They ate a meal of salt beef, biscuits, and mushy peas to celebrate and give thanks for their safe arrival in what is now Nunavut. They celebrated Communion and formally expressed their thanks through the ship’s Chaplain, Robert Wolfall.
In 1606, in an attempt to prevent the kind of scurvy epidemic that had decimated the settlement at Île Ste. Croix in the winter of 1604–05, Samuel de Champlain founded a series of rotating feasts at Port Royal called the Ordre de Bon Temps. Local Mi’kmaq families were also invited. The first feast was held on 14 November 1606 to celebrate the return of Jean de Biencourt de Poutrincourt from an expedition. He was a member of the French nobility best remembered as a commander of the French colonial empire, one of those responsible for establishing a permanent settlement what became known as Acadia, (from the Canadian Encyclopedia).
Giving Thanks
Thanksgiving should be in every breath that we take, of course. We breathe in the holiness of God and we exhale all that troubles or limits us in our sense of unity with the Holy One. Harvest, on the other hand, is a very specific type of gratitude. The harvest represents both security from starvation and, also, the end of the time of labouring in the fields (dependent on weather and the other elements). Our sense of harvest has faded somewhat with the advent of supermarkets where food seems to be mysteriously and unfailingly created. As climate change and supply issues become more critical to our food supply, I suspect that we will look again to the land and sea — with hopeful hearts and with gratitude — for the blessings of sustenance that we receive. The grace that our family never omits at our table is to thank the plants and animals who give their lives that we might live.
In the Jewish creation story in Genesis, we read that God has given us everything necessary for abundant living. Again in the gospel of Matthew, Jesus said that we should not be anxious about our lives because we do have everything we need for abundant living. So why are we anxious? It is clear that we live in a world where some have more than they need, and some have more than is good for their own humility and compassion. Others have nothing, or much less than they need, to feel like they are surviving, never mind thriving. There is a tendency to blame the poor rather than the greedy. It seems like affluence can blind us to both the needs before us and to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to be creative about giving.
Some people who find themselves with more, know how to give it away, how to give their wealth purpose and in service to others. Others are not blessed with this insight. And when I have worked amongst the poor, I have always been humbled by their generosity, despite hardship and scarcity.
When is enough, enough? When can we see sacrifice as the holy offering it is intended to be? As we offer our thanks in this season, let us think about the ways in which we can give thanks for the past that has brought us to this rich harvest. How can we offer this gift to the uncertain future with faith in our hearts that the Spirit will bring us new life? On this Harvest celebration, may your tables be filled with memory and hope, with good food and creative ideas about sharing. May you feel the love of God as you gather with friends and family. May Jesus abide with you at every table, in every place you rest.
Thanksgiving
