Blessed Bounty

4 When the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar of the LORD your God, 5 you shall make this response before the LORD your God: "A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great nation, mighty and populous. 6 When the Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, 7 we cried to the LORD, the God of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil, and our oppression. 8 The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; 9 and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. 10 So now I bring the first of the fruit of the ground that you, O LORD, have given me." You shall set it down before the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. 11 Then you, together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and to your house. (Deuteronomy 26:8-11)

The book of Deuteronomy recounts Moses' words to the people of Israel as he neared the end of his life. In chapter 26, the people are instructed to bring the first fruits of the land to the priests to celebrate God's goodness. This offering was part of a ritual of remembering all that God had brought them through. "The ritual, a liturgy performed by the individual landowner before the altar, acknowledges receipt of the land promised to the ancestors and recalls the history of the people from the time of the ancestors until the present moment when the foundational oath of God is fulfilled, embodied in a basket filled full. The prescribed recitation recounts a communal faith journey spanning centuries. It begins with a landless ancestor and concludes with his descendant presenting the first fruit of the gifted land." (Brian C. Jones, Professor Emeritus of Religion, Wartburg College)

Though it was presented to the priests, the purpose of the offering was to share the bounty with those who were without land - those who could not have provided a feast for themselves. Throughout the bible God repeatedly calls God's people to support and protect the widow, the orphan, and the immigrant. This communal care is the basis of grateful celebration and can be the heart of our Thanksgiving. We can recall and share the various stories that bring us to gather around the table. As we joyfully open our doors and our tables to new friends may we glimpse the mystery of Advent - the ever-coming, indwelling peace, hope, joy, and love of God with us.

4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. 5 O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD! (Isaiah 2:4-5)