We are nearing the end of the Gratitude Journey we’ve been on these last few weeks of Pentecost. We’ve thought of how Nature, our own Heritage, History, and Community offer ways to be Grateful and give thanks to God.
This week we consider how the World is calling us to be Grateful to God. As the African-American spiritual says, “He’s got the whole world in his hands…” The song goes on to say, “He’s got my brothers and my sisters in his hands”. Last week we considered our communities and who are the brothers and sisters in them. They, and we, are all held in God’s loving hands.
The world is more than just the blue pebble whirling around the sun in the vast expanse of space. It is everything God created and sustains. The song continues, “He’s got the sun and the rain…the moon and the starts…the wind and the clouds…the rivers and the mountains…the oceans and the seas in His hands.”
Wherever you are right now, look around. What do you see?
Trees? Sand? Mountains? Ocean? People? Animals? Insects? Every single thing you
can see, for as far as you can see, or as near up as you can get, is part of
the World that God holds in God’s hands. From the inmost workings of atoms, to
the most giant of beasts, and the far flung reaches of space which even the
strongest telescopes cannot see, all are in God’s hands
The Old Testament lesson for Sunday from the Revised Common Lectionary says, “For I am about to create new heavens and a new earth; the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice for ever in what I am creating; for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy, and its people as a delight…The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox…” (Isaiah 65:17-18, 25)
The Sunday Psalm continues the theme calling on all creation to sing to the Lord “Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands; lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing. Sing to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the voice of song. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout with joy before the King, the Lord. Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it, the lands and those who dwell therein. Let the rivers clap their hands, and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, when he comes to judge the earth. In righteousness shall he judge the world and the peoples with equity.” (Psalm 98:5-10)
All the world is singing to God. Even things we might consider inanimate, like rivers and hills are called to praise God. I am reminded of what Jesus said when “some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, ‘Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!’” (Luke 19:39). The New Living Bible says he replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” (Luke 19:40) Nature, along with humans, can praise and give thanks to God.
The old spiritual reminds us that God has “the whole world in his hands”. Most of all “He’s got everybody here…there…everybody everywhere in his hands”.
The world is certainly something to be grateful for. In Eucharistic Prayer C of The Book of Common Prayer (1979) we pray, “At your command all things came to be: the vast expanse of interstellar space, galaxies, suns, the planets in their courses, and this fragile earth, our island home. By your will they were created and have their being.” All is God’s and all rejoices in God.
It is a short step from realizing that all creation is rejoicing in God, to working to support that life. Take time this week to look around at the world and to listen for the animate and inanimate responses to God. Follow my posts on Facebook as I explore the World and Gratitude.
How do you hear or see creation praising and thanking God?
Where do you find yourself feeling Gratitude for the World?
What small thing might you do this week to clean or repair your corner of the world?
If you need Biblical inspiration, consider some of these Bible verses:
John 3:16
Rom 12:1-2
John 16:33
Mark 16:15
I John
James 1:27
