A Thanksgiving Word:

Jesus took a loaf of bread,

gave thanks (eucharisteō), broke it and gave it… (Lk 22:19)

It’s hard to think of our word “thanksgiving” without thinking of the Greek New Testament word eucharistia. It’s a word so precious we’ve just brought it over as is into our English language as “Eucharist”. A word used to describe what happens when we gather around our Lord’s Table and hear him “give thanks”.

It’s a big word in the New Testament. Let me break it down. Not that I know a whole lot of Greek, but I do know some:

                        chara:              is at the heart of the word. It’s the word for “joy”

                        charis:             is there too, it’s the word for “grace”

                        charisma:        the “ma” at the end speaks of what happens when joy and grace

land on us. It’s translated as “gift” or “spiritual gift”. It’s the gift of God’s joy and graciousness in our lives. It’s another one of those N.T. words that’s brought over into our English: “charisma” or “charismatic” meaning that one goes about certain task with joy and grace. Like when Steph Curry plays basketball; at his best, there’s joy and grace in it.

                        eucharistia:      by putting the prefix eu in front we get “good” or “beautiful”

grace. When we have received grace, we acknowledge it as beautiful—as a gift for which we return thanks.

Okay, I’ll move on. Maybe Anna will find it interesting.