“I have not missed it!”
So says Scrooge on Christmas morning . . .
. . . when he discovers the spirits have done all their work in one night. The ‘work’ to which Scrooge refers are the past, present, and future reminders he has been given to do good—to give gifts—to those around him.
Giving gifts comes in many forms. Pulling the thorn from a paw, as in the tale of Androcles and the Lion. Louis C. K. brilliantly announces the many gifts we tend to take for granted. Nicholas van Orten learns the hard way that “thank you” is the only response to unappreciated gifts.
Teaching yesterday at my church about thanksgiving, I was reminded again how much gifts matter, specifically the gift of grace. 2 Corinthians chapters 8-9 are literally littered with “grace.”
The importance of the Greek word charis for “grace” stands out in this passage. In fact, the word “grace” is also used for the word “thanksgiving” and “gift-giving.” Notice the underlining:
- God’s grace (charis)
- results in our thanksgiving (eucharistia)
- motivating us to gift-giving (charisma).
Further, “grace” begins and ends the passage, forming the bookends to each chapter:
- [8:1] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [9:15]
- “Grace” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .“Grace”
- “The Grace of God” “Grace (thanks) be to God”
Then, “grace” literally litters the chapters:
- Grace of God; 8.2 Grace = “joy”; 8.4 Grace = “favor”; 8.6 An act of Grace; 8.7 An act of Grace; 8.9 Grace of Christ; 8.16 Grace = “thanks”; 8.19 An act of Grace; 8.20 Grace = “gift”
- Grace = “gift” (2x); 9.6 Grace = bounty (2x) = “Confession”; 9.7 Grace giver is “hilarious”; 9.8 Grace is lavished, super-blessing; 9.9 Grace given freely; 9.11 Grace = “Communion” (eucharis); 9.12 Grace = “Communion” (eucharis); 9.13 Grace = “Confession”; 9.14 Grace of God; 9.15 Grace = “Thanks” for the “Gift”
Perhaps you have heard about @tipsforjesus. Servers receive super-abundant gratuities for a simple meal. “Gratuity” is exactly the word used for “grace” in that last verse,
“Thanks (grace) to God for His indescribable gratuity (grace).”
We have been given so much we jump for joy with Scrooge who describes his feelings, “light as a feather, happy as a schoolboy, giddy as a drunken man.”
Scrooge awakes on Christmas day saying, “I have not missed it! The spirits have done their work—reminders of gift-giving—all in one night!”
And I wondered, just before Thanksgiving this year, how I respond to God’s great gift of grace. The questions I posed to the class yesterday, I pose to myself every day. Read 2 Corinthians 8-9 for yourself, then answer these questions:
- How can I express my gratitude?
- How much should I give?
- How do I take communion with gratitude?
- How should I sing with gratitude?
- How should my emotion change toward gratitude?
Mark is thankful to work for Capital Seminary & Graduate School where grace is taught and lived.