When the Pilgrims came to America in 1620, they were seeking religious freedom. They left England in September and reached the shores of America 66 days later—just in time for the New England winter. Only about half of them survived that first winter. In the spring they were befriended by a local Native American named Tisquantum (Squanto for short). Squanto had been kidnapped by a sea captain, sold into slavery, and learned English. He escaped to London, found a way back to America on another ship—and welcomed the English to his native land. (I can’t help but think of how God provided, how Squanto was forgiving, and how similar his story was to St. Patrick’s.)
Squanto taught the English how to survive by hunting, fishing, and growing appropriate crops. They took to his instruction and faced the winter of 1621 with a storehouse of supplies, with rudimentary homes, and even with peace with the Native Americans. They gave thanks to God and celebrated—for three days.
Americans through our early history celebrated harvest with a feast—the way peoples have celebrated all through history. Abraham Lincoln made the 4th Thursday in November the official day to celebrate God’s Providence in 1863—a time when our nation was divided into two countries—the North and the South.
We have kept this feast day ever since. There are poles which say Thanksgiving is the US’s most popular holiday.
Religious Freedom in Today’s Readings
In the US, our churches have a choice to use today’s readings from the universal lectionary or to use readings specifically for giving thanks. In today’s reflection I am going to use the universal readings—with a theme of thanksgiving for religious freedom.
Today’s first reading comes from the book of 1 Maccabees. 1 Maccabees describes threats to religious freedom about 100 years before Jesus’ time. (Chronologically, 2 Maccabees describes events BEFORE those described in 1 Maccabees—that’s why selections from it happened on Monday-Wednesday of this week). 1 Maccabees tells the story of the priest Mattathias, his three sons, and his grandson as they revolted against the Seleucid kings who persecuted the Jews.
In 1 Maccabees, prior to today’s reading, the king destroyed the temple in Jerusalem, killed many of its residents, and required that all the people in the land worship his gods. The Jews were specifically targeted. Because circumcision was the sign of the Jews’ covenant with God, women who had their babies’ circumcised were killed with their babies hung around their necks. Mattathias and his family fled Jerusalem and settled in the town of Modein.
TIn today’s reading the king’s messenger calls the people of Modein together to publicly obey the king’s command to worship his gods. The Gentiles obey. Mattathias is asked to obey. He refuses. Another Jew starts to obey. Mattathias is “filled with zeal” and kills the apostate and the king’s messenger. He then boldly goes through the city and calls people to come with him out into the hills and deserts in rebellion. You’ll have the read the rest of 1 Maccabees to learn the rest of the story.
Problems with Religious Freedom Today
Sitting in my comfortable home with church nearby where I can freely worship every day, the stories of Pilgrims and Mattathias seem very long ago and far away.
But are they?
In my work with Asbury Seminary, three mental health interns from Africa have spent a year training under me. All three experienced religious persecution in their native countries. One woman from Nigeria had her home burned because her family is Christian. She has gone back to Nigeria now to specifically work with widows of Christian men who are killed in fighting with Muslims. There are little or no resources for many of these women.
In my work with refugees we have a training activity that says, “Tell a story of something that happened as you came to America.” When I put that activity in the curriculum I expected to get stories of airports or camps or understanding American buses. We get lots of those. But almost every time I see this activity done in a class there is a story like this one. “My father was well respected in our village, even though we were Christian. He was good to many people. So one night there was a visitor just at dinner time. My father sent us away from our meal while they talked. When the visitor left my father called us in. He told us that we must quietly pack up what each of us could carry without being noticed. As soon as dark came, we would leave to meet in the forest at a place we knew. We would each leave separately and go by different routes to enter the forest. We were used to obeying our father. He did not tell us why we were doing this. We did it. We all met and began to walk through the forest in the night toward another village where there were a lot of Christians. In the night we saw the sky glow and heard screams. Our village had been invaded and set on fire. After we were safe several days later my father told us the visitor had known it would happen. He had risked his life to let my father know.”
Lack of Religious Freedom Is All Around
The website www.opendoors.org has a wealth of information about religious persecution today. A PEW research study says that 75% of the world’s population lives under severe religious restrictions (just like the Pilgrims and Catholics in England did at the time the United States was founded). Many of those are Christians. Many are other faiths who also suffer. Open Doors reports each month 322 Christians are killed for their faith. 214 churches and properties are destroyed, and 772 acts of violence against Christians because of their faith occur.
In the US Thanksgiving is a big time for family. We gather to enjoy each other, to feast, to work together preparing dinner and doing dishes, to catch up. We watch football on TV and make plans for Christmas. For many of us, it is also a day of worship. We go to church and thank God for our blessings. This year Thanksgiving comes right before the Solemnity of Christ the King. Next Sunday we will celebrate that for the Church—for us—Christ is the ruler. Even though he may not be the temporal ruler in control of the here and now, he is in control ultimately. It is Christ we obey.
This year I am going to especially thank God for the freedom to both worship him and to live my faith. It is a wonderful gift to have this freedom.
Prayer of Gratitude for Religious Freedom
For the final prayer, I’m going to switch to Psalm 14 from the Thanksgiving readings. Praise is a gift of God. It builds our capacity for Fidelity. Fidelity is the quality that Mattathias had. It is the quality that makes persecuted Christians into victorious ones.
- I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Every day will I bless you,
and I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the LORD and highly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Generation after generation praises your works
and proclaims your might.
They speak of the splendor of your glorious majesty
and tell of your wondrous works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
They discourse of the power of your terrible deeds
and declare your greatness.
They publish the fame of your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your Kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. I will praise your name for ever, Lord.
