The Feast Before Our Very Eyes

Scripture: Matthew 13:16-17 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.

Observation: The disciples lived in precious times. But so do we.

Application: Today is Thanksgiving. It’s a beautiful day and I’m with family at a state park to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of my in-laws. I’m sitting in a long hallway with a wall of windows overlooking a stretch of grass that leads to a beautiful lake. Just outside the window is a host of sparrows enjoying the bird-feeder buffet. It’s nice.

But it also makes me wonder how many people have longed to see such things, but never did. I wonder how many people longed to see 50 years of marriage but didn’t see it. I wonder how many people longed to have their own children, but weren’t able. I wonder how many people longed for a decent standard of living but never knew what such things were like. I wonder how many people have never spent a day in any kind of modest resort, other than perhaps to serve on the cleaning staff. I wonder how many people in the world have never looked out on a beautiful lake as the sun comes up. I wonder how many people have spent their lives on the outside looking in and how many people have spent their lives on the inside and never looked out.

To be clear, I wouldn’t equate any of these things with seeing the kingdom of God. That’s where the disciples clearly had a most definite edge, though it’s unlikely that they realized it at the time. And perhaps that’s the point. Realizing our reasons for thanksgiving at the time is one of the greatest blessings ever. To be able to see the beauty of life in front of us is one of God’s greatest gifts—to enjoy life’s feast right before our very eyes.

Prayer: Lord, thanks for this beautiful morning. But thank you, as well, for all the mornings that don’t look so beautiful, but nevertheless, really are. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Readings today included: Matthew 11-13)