Thanksgiving for Everything

By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

As we celebrate the very important holiday of Thanksgiving this month, let’s recall St. Paul’s insight about giving thanks as the secret to having peace, in fact, “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding”. (Cf. Phil 4:6-9)

Echoing our Lord Himself at the Last Supper Who told the Apostles, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (Jn 14:28), St. Paul commands the Philippians, “Have no anxiety at all”! Honestly, those exhortations seem to be ‘easier said than done’, especially these days of 2023 with so many concerns and fearful things around the world and in our own countries. How does St. Paul expect us to not be anxious about anything? He goes on to explain in the same verse, “But in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

We are all very used to asking for things, even to God in our prayer, but giving thanks is something every parent knows you have to teach your children to do. And, so, St. Paul is teaching the Philippians: petition and thanksgiving. Yet there is a very important clause at the beginning that is the secret to the peace that surpasses all understanding: in everything. It is easier to give thanks for good things received, but St. Paul is saying to give thanks not only for the good things, but even for the hard things, the challenges, the trials, the set-backs, for EVERYTHING. 

 If we are happy and peaceful only when things go well and our way, our peace is very fragile and these days in short supply. If we can be detached from “having it my way”, and actually be grateful to God for the challenges and trials, even sufferings when they come, then we can have a constant and deep peace. 

It’s the kind of peace that Paul and Silas had when they first arrived in Philippi. They were set upon by an angry mob supported by the magistrates and beaten with rods without a trial and then locked in the prison. (Cf. Act 16) At midnight, they were praying and singing praises to God that all the inmates heard. Then an earthquake shook the prison and all the fetters and gates were broken. The jailer and his whole family were baptized that very night, and Paul and Silas were set free of the injustice they suffered. It was before the earthquake which changed everything for them that they were praying and singing hymns of praise and thanksgiving to God. That’s the Peace of God that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all our friends, families and supporters!