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When we went to Cuba, we stayed at Matenzas seminary.
One evening, we met with the faculties and students. And right at that time, there was a blackout. So in the dark, we had a meeting.
It was almost like a symbolic message of what is going on in Cuba. They shared their dark reality they were facing every day not only in their personal life but also in their ministries.
There I said, hope in a hopeful situation is not hope.
That was what St. Paul said.
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (Romans 8:24, 25)
That is the difference between the spiritual hope and the worldly hope.
The worldly hope is possible when the situation is hopeful. That is the hope for what you see. St. Paul said that is not hope in a true sense.
Spiritual hope is hope in a hopeless situation. That is the hope for what you don’t see.
Thanksgiving is the same thing. We think of thanksgiving only as our response to situations around us.
When somebody helps you, then you give thanks. When you are promoted, then you give thanks. When good things happen, you are thankful. That’s how we understand what thanksgiving is.
I would like to look at thanksgiving a little differently.
I don’t think it is just a response to our situations but thanksgiving is our weapon to deal with our situations. It is our strength to overcome our situations.
Thanksgiving in a thankful situation is not really thanksgiving. Spiritual thanksgiving is giving thanks in your very difficult situation.
There is a Hymn about thanksgiving. The words go like this.
Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered,
Thanks for what Thou dost deny!
Thanks for roses by the wayside,
Thanks for thorns their stems contain!
Whether prayer is answered or not. Not only for the beautiful flowers of roses but also their thorns.
The person who wrote this hymn knew very well about the nature of spiritual thanksgiving. Spiritual thanksgiving does not come from our situations.
Life can take away many things from us but it cannot take away the heart of thanksgiving. That is what spiritual thanksgiving is.
We give thanks not because everything goes well. We give thanks even when things are not going well.
Why? Because we know that God will help us and change our situations.
Our thanksgiving is founded on this truth.
We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
Because we believe that everything will work out for good, we give thanks. Whether our situation is good or not, we give thanks because everything will work out for good.
St. Paul said, Rejoice always, Pray without ceasing, and Give thanks in all circumstances. So spiritual thanksgiving is always thanksgiving in advance.
St. Paul said,
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6)
Don’t be anxious about anything. With thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Then what happens?
You will not fall into despair. You will not lose your confidence. You will not be all flustered.
But this will happen.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)
When you take your situations with thankful heart, you will experience peace. And with peace, you can handle your situation better.
This peace is like an anchor. You will not be scattered like chaff.
Your situation will not overwhelm you. In peace, you will find great insights about your situation and you will know what to do.
St. Paul experienced torment in his life.
He called it thorn in the flesh. We don’t know exactly what it is. Because he suffered from eye disease, may be that was what he referred to. Or his psychological pressure.
Anyway, his situation was unbearable. But instead of falling into despair, he pray to God with thanksgiving.
God gave him peace and he opened the world of grace. First time, he experienced the world of grace.
Just before he experienced the thorn, he had an experience of going to the third heaven. It was an out of world experience.
God gave him the thorn so that he wouldn’t become too elated.
St. Paul didn’t fully understand the power of grace in that heavenly experience. He experienced the power of grace when he was tortured by the thorn. The world of grace was open for him.
This was what God said.
My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Now St. Paul understood the world of grace and he confessed in this way.
So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)
When things are fine, we don’t understand the power of grace. But when things are not good, we often experience the power of grace.
So when life is hard and painful, do not complain. Do not blame others or yourself. Give thanks to God.
God will open the world of grace and this grace will give you strength. When you take your life situations with thankful heart, you will not be thrown into deep darkness.
When you live your life with a thankful heart, you will live your life focusing on the bright side of life. This is very important.
When we look at people’s sins, we don’t just focus on their sins. We focus on how God will bring about justice in spite of their sins.
When we look at the evil of the world, we don’t just focus on the evil. We focus on God who will overcome the evil.
That’s why we are thankful.
We don’t focus on the dark side. We focus on the bright side. Through that vision, the change happens.
Do not focus on what’s lacking in you. Focus on the vision of making your life full.
That’s what St. Paul teaches us today.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)
Is there any negative thought there?
Think about these things he said. That means focus on these things.
Look at the bright side of your life. That will become your vision. And this vision will become someday your reality.
That’s what creation is.
God’s desire became reality. “Let there be light” was God’s desire. “And there was light” was the reality. Creation.
When you live with thankful heart, you will become creative. In whatever situation you may be in, your creativity will make your life full.
Even when his deafness was profound, he was able to write his 6th symphony, “Pastoral.” He was able to hear the birds, water streaming down, and wind not in his ear but in his heart. He was creative.
With thanksgiving, be creative with your life.
No more guilt. No more worries. No more complaints.
Live with spiritual insights.
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