Bible Text: Matthew 5:1-12 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes
You know this week, I was very surprised to discover that the Irish have actually given us TWO holidays. One involves dressing up in costumes, filling yourself with goodies and participating in fellowship, which we all know is St. Patrick’s Day. But it turns out that Halloween comes from the Irish as well. The original festival celebrated the harvest and was the traditional New Year’s Eve celebration. It symbolized a renewing of the year as well as a time for reflection on the year that was. Like so many other non Christians traditions the early church took this holiday and shaped it into its own important festival All Hallow’s Even. The word hallow meaning “saint”. Halloween of course being the night before All Saints Day, which was yesterday. A day dedicated to reflection.
Growing up All Saints Day was one of those church traditions that we didn’t celebrate. It was something that only the Roman Catholic church participated in, venerating the saints of centuries ago, reflecting on their goodness and example. But after some thought and research I discovered that it is a tradition from the very early church, before the establishment of what we understand as the Roman Catholic church. It goes back to the early days of missionaries in Europe, particularly Ireland. So why not celebrate it.
Christians differ in their estimations about who and what constitutes a “saint,” and so they celebrate this feast day differently. Roman Catholics and Orthodox believers view saints as extraordinary Christians whose lives were characterized by heroic virtue, genuine miracles and divine visions. Saints Francis or Patrick or Andrew come to mind. They venerate but do not worship these deceased saints, and pray to them for help. Essentially viewing saints as people who are just slightly closer than the average person to God. I too am grateful for the inspiring examples of these remarkable Christians. I am particularly drawn to Saint Ignatius of Layola and Saint Catherine of Siena. As a Presbyterian, however, I affirm that every ordinary believer, those from the past, those in the present and those who will be, are “saints,” not just the elite heroes. You see, the protestant church believes in the sainthood of all believers. Paul, for example, addressed his letters to “all the saints” in Rome, Ephesus, and Philippi. People who were alive and living as followers of Jesus. Being a Christian is one of the few things in life you cannot or should not try to do alone; we need help from all the saints—known and unknown, and especially the everyday, ordinary believers.
God has claimed each one of us, and as a result even with our imperfections has granted us sainthood. As children of God we are all members of an equal family. We are not suppose to compete with each other, particularly in matters of faith. I know that everyone of the saints in my life were not perfect, but they managed to reach to me in ways many others couldn’t.
Looking back on my life there are a lot of people who had to demonstrate sainthood in order for me to be here today. You will never read about these saints in any church history book. There will never be any days of commemoration in the church calendar set aside to solely honor and remember them. They are just ordinary folks like you and me, but in the course of seeking to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ, in striving to love the Lord with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind, they ended up touching my life in ways that changed me and had a profound effect on where I am today.
Mr. Millar was one such saint. I’ve been thinking about him a lot after last week’s service. He was my pre-teen Sunday school teacher, who also took us out to basketball and hockey games which taught us the importance of convenantal fellowship. He invited us over to his house many times for dinner, and practiced a lot of patience when we wanted to listen to our hard rock tapes over his selection of Gaither Singer records. Most importantly he introduced me to God and spawned a desire to study Scripture. He is one of many saints in my life. By their example and witness and faithfulness to the love and grace of God, they made an indelible mark on me.
Who are the saints in your life ? Who taught you how to celebrate
God’s love and grace? Who managed to influence your spiritual life? It is those saints I wish to celebrate on this All Saints Sunday. I also know that years from now members our congregation and Sunday school will remember you, because you taught them about Christ’s compassion and gave them foundations in faith. That’s what this All Saint’s Sunday is about, a time to remember and to thank God for all those saints down through the ages, whose names may not be recorded in books, but whose names are certainly written on our hearts. Some of them have moved on while others still play a part in our lives. The one thing these saints have in common is their love for God, and their willingness to allow God to use them in reaching out and ministering to others, allowing the grace, love and compassion of God to shine through them.
But we also know that we are not perfect. There are people in our lives that we may not remember so fondly, just as others may not think of us as saints. We are all called to be saints but there is no doubt that we are all sinners. Perhaps that is what makes our gospel passage this morning so special.
In his translation of the Bible, called The Message, Eugene Peterson puts it like this, “Jesus tells us, blessed are the poor in spirit. You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. Because God’s kingdom is waiting for you. Blessed are those who feel the weight of the world’s suffering, those who feel as if they have lost everything. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you. Blessed are the humble, You’re blessed when you are connected with who you are-no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can not be bought. Blessed are those who hunger and long for what is right and good. You are blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. Because God’s food and drink is the best meal you’ll ever eat. You’re blessed when you get your inside world- your mind and heart-put right. Because then you can see God in the outside world. But not only that- count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.”
So many times we find ourselves as sinners, struggling to maintain a right relationship with God and with others. But that is when Jesus comes a long and reminds us that even in our imperfections and up hill battles we are blessed. We are called to be loving, kind, compassionate, generous, faithful people. But we are often challenged by those around us and struggle to live that type of life. The important thing is that we let it all characterize our lives. Because maybe, just maybe, some day there will be some one else standing up here remembering us on this day. All Saints Sunday. Amen