2002.11.24. Thanksgiving Sunday - Rev. Sang Keun Kim

In search of giving thanks

John 6:1-13

I need to ask all of you who came today for worship to observe the thanksgiving week for understanding. Those who came here today in search of the title of thanks, it will be hard for me to convey what you expect during the sermon. You have already heard the moving sermons relating to the thanksgiving and are familiar with a lot of stories relating to the thanksgiving. You already know stories about pilgrims looking for religious freedom who came to new land by May Flower, what had happened in Plymouth in 1620 and the history of thanksgiving which originated from the visit by the Native Indians. Thanksgiving Day will be here once again and for the millions of turkeys which have been waiting for the moment of the feasts, we will bid goodbye.

As we observe the thanksgiving week, what I would like to share with you starts with the questions to you. My brothers and sisters, with what title of thanks are you here today? What title of thanks do you have? With thanksgiving week approaching, there certainly should be thanks, but to be honest with you, it is hard to find the genuine appreciation for gratefulness nowadays. When you cannot find anything to thank about, how can you give thanks? How was your year? Was it a year full of thanks and gratitude?

September last year, I had the chance to attend the small group conference in Willow Creek church in Chicago with a few of our cell leaders. Since the schedule was tight, we had to take the plane and I will never forget the experience. We were fearful of taking the plane because it was right after the 911attack. While I was looking for my seat in the plane, I kept a close eye on the faces of the passengers. Almost all the passengers looked tense checking the other passengers in fear. Checking to see if any Arabs were on board. I am embarrassed to say I also was checking the people around me. With cell phone in my hand sweating, I was thinking about this. If there is an attack, whom do I call? What do I say? How about you? Have you ever had that kind of experience? Why do we feel the fear? How can we give thanks in midst of year filled with this fear?

After the 9-11, what had happened? How about Anthrax scare? White powder found in the mails and parcels in the post office. We had to change the way we opened the mails. It was sad to open the mails in my balcony with my face facing the other way. Why do we have to live in this kind of fear? What is the world coming to? How can we find thanks in midst of this world of madness?

How about this year? How about the sniper attack who put us all in fear and horror in Washington? Many people without any reason lost their lives continually. Once I saw a woman continuously shaking her head as she was filling up gas. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. How can we give thanks in midst of this horrible event?

There still is war going on and the talk of new war starting is everywhere. Even though the world wants peace, the power struggle and the war seem inevitable. The direction of missile launch seems to be moving from Afghanistan to Iraq. I remember reading from the newspaper that the reason president George Bush repeatedly ask for the war is because of his name. Sounds like George=screw up and Bush= destroy.

Why is the world in disorder? Why is the world in chaos? Why do we live in constant fear and horror? Why do we have to fear for our lives riding an air-plane, going up a tall building, opening an envelope even filling up a tank? How can we give thanks in this chaos and disorder?

With economy going down, many people lost their jobs or living in the fear of lay-off. The hardships are there for businessmen, retirees as well. The concerns over our children, the worries over our health are with us. How can we give thanks in midst of our worries and troubles?

In today's scripture, we met Jesus who first gave thanks with insignificant five loaves of bread and two fishes. Jesus first thanked God before the meal prepared with plain loaves of bread and fish.

In Hebrew time, barley loves and the fish were considered meager and innutritious food which substitute the real meal for the poor. The writer for the gospel John especially emphasizes this point. Truly, this miracle of feeding that many people with mere five loaves and two small fish is recorded in all four gospels. (Matthew14;13-21,15;32-39; Mark6;30-44,8;1-10,Luke9;10-17). The miracle of changing water to wine in Cana in Galilee is recorded only in gospel John and is omitted in gospel Matthew, Mark and Luke.

But the miracle that fed so many with only five loaves and two small fish is recorded in all four. There is something that the writer of gospel John, through this miraculous event, is emphasizing especially. And that is Jesus especially gave thanks over this worthless fish.

This fish that Jesus thanked is different from the fish that are in other gospels. The fish that appear in other gospels uses Ixtus in Latin. This word actually means fish, but for the first church it meant Jesus is the Lord, The Son of God and Our Savior. It was used as a symbol for the meaning of Christians. But the writer for the gospel John used completely different word while explaining the miraculous event. The writer for the gospel John used the word Opsalion instead the word Ixtus which meant fish. This Opsalion is different type of fish from Ixtus fish. Opsalion is not a fish that the fishermen catch and sell in the Galilee.

Opsalion is the ones that fishermen throw away because they are small in size and tasteless. The poor would take theses tasteless and small fishes and salted and dried them for their food. The small, tasteless and worthless fish, that was the fish that Jesus took and thanked. He took and gave thanks. "Dear God the father, thank you. Thank you for these two small fish. Thank you for letting us share these two fish with this many people." Jesus gave thanks first with these insignificant fish.

Jesus was the one that could not give thanks. The perfect God, and at the same time completely human, Jesus' life was far from giving thanks. Jesus was born in an environment that was far from giving thanks. He was born in a manger in a barn with the smell of cows and the horses in Bethlehem.

Recently, the Princeton theologian college published the book (Jesus; A Psychological Biology) by professor Donald Capps. Donald Capps who has published over 30 books in the area of religious psychology published very interesting research results on Jesus' childhood psychological experiences. I cannot agree everything on his opinion, but it was interesting that he researched on Jesus' childhood pain and sufferings in religious psychological aspect.

According to professor Donald Capps, there is possibility that Jesus might have experienced tremendous psychological trials while going through his childhood, adolescence and early youth period. Considering the morals and the environment in Jesus' time, Jesus grew up in an environment not knowing who his biological father was or as a fatherless son. Professor Donald Capps analyzed the New Testament's record where Jesus was described as "Son of Maria." He claimed that this expression crossed the pass of social promise of that time since people used the name after their fathers. There is possibility that Jesus might have experienced tremendous social and psychological pain growing up as Fatherless son since he was recorded in the New Testament as Son of Maria instead of Son of Joseph and that there is no record of his biological father Joseph.

Even though Jesus was growing up in this difficult environment, he knew exactly who he was. This correct recognition of his identity and correct recognition of who really was his father while growing up led to life of suffering. We have no way of knowing what kind of father-son relationships he might have had with Joseph. What is clear is that Jesus knew exactly who he was and who his real father was. So when Jesus was baptized in Jordan River, when he was to begin his work on earth, there was a voice coming from heaven. Gospel Mark 1;11 writes that the voice from heaven or rather the moment Jesus heard God's voice for the first time as "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased." That was the first time that Jesus heard God's voice.

Professor Capps expressed this voice as Jesus' 'Theology of Abba". With this new "Theology of Abba", he went into the world and proclaimed new word of comfort. Jesus said this "Theology of Abba" to the people who were hurt and heart broken in relationships. "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."(Matthew5;48) "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"(Matthew7;11) "Abba, Father," he said," everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."(Mark 14;36) Jesus' last word was about God. "I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from high."(Luke24;49)

Jesus always led the life of thanks to God. He first thanked God with small and tasteless fish that the fishermen from Galilee threw away. Even though Jesus' life was miserable from the beginning, even though lived the life of suffering to the cross, he lived the life of thanks to God with these two small fish.

With what title of thanks did you come here today? I would like to introduce a brother who came to God with small thanks. A few weeks ago I heard the good news from a cell leader whom this brother belonged. I was ask to lead the cell meeting as to congratulate on this brother's moving to a new house. When I arrived I felt the uncomfortable atmosphere in the house. I found out from the cell leader that the week he planned that I was to lead the meeting, he got laid off from his job. I was bewildered by the whole situation. But despite the difficult situation of this brother, his whole family, wife and the two kids were comforting each other and keeping a life of thanks. Let's hear from this brother's title of thanks.

I cannot memorize the Lord's Prayer. I started reading the Bible not even a year ago. I could not even conceive the idea of standing before all of you when I got the call from Reverend Kim. But I am standing here to give thanks to God. That's the reason why I am here today. To give thanks to cell members and to all of you.

It's been almost nine years since I came to America as a student. I did not believe the existence of God during the whole time. I always thought that was the make believe of the people with weak mind and thought. I existed and lived with that belief day after day here in America. I worked and tried my best with my job. To get the recognition, I worked hard without looking back. Believing this was the way to make my wife and kids life happy for nine years. Starting with the ice cream shop to work as a graphic designer. I did not set a foot in the church. Not only did I not go to church, I also did not allow my wife to go to church who was born Christian. I who did not open the door even when reverend came, started to go to church. Because I felt pity for my wife who despite my harsh objection went to church with my infant daughter. When people asked me why I go to church, I used to say to maintain a peaceful home. I even went to the cell meetings for the sake of formality. With my humble look, it was easy to get along with the members. As I became close with the members, voluntarily and involuntarily, I started to go to the Bible study on Tuesdays. I lived the double life as I sometimes believed and questioned and denied so many times. Using a work as an excuse, I sometimes neglected my wife and two children. Using a work from 11 to 9 as an excuse, I boasted and comforted myself as I would see it fit. At every cell meeting, my wife prayed for more of my time with children and more of my time to come to cell meetings. God might have misunderstood her and now I am laid off.

After the dismissal notice, I abandoned my self to despair. There seems nothing I can do. What the future holds for my wife and me seems…..

The burden of next house payment was crushing down on me. Upon hearing the news, all of the cell members comforted me and prayed for me. But I was still full of worry and fear. To earn the money for the next mortgage payment, I was driving violently when I saw the word on the drawing paper at the back of the car in front of me. "Don't worry. God is in control." At that moment, the feeling of peace came over me. At that exact moment, I realized. I did not own my life. I felt the prayers that my wife and cell members and the people around me have been praying. At that moment, I put down all of my worry and trouble before God. God who was with me whole time.

I am truly thankful. I am at peace knowing the value of the prayers of my cell members and my wife and the people around me. I am foremost thankful for receiving God who will be with me forever. With this thanks, I will pray for those in needs. Thank you God.

With what title of thanks, are you here today? Do you have this small title of thanks that this brother has brought here today? Even though what we have is small and insignificant, let us bring forth this insufficient and small to God and give thanks. Let us follow the example of Jesus who gave thanks with this small fish. Let us give thanks to God for that amazing grace. The amazing grace that lets us call him "God the Father."