All Saints Sunday: What Is Holding Us Back?

Today's Scripture Readings

Revelation 7:9-17 (NRSV)

After this I, John, looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice, saying,

"Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,singing,

"Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

"Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from? "I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows. " Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Psalm 34:1-10, 22 (BCP., p.627)


1 John 3:1-3 (NRSV)

See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. And all who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

 Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Announcement

 

I have begun a new daily blog entitled Simple Reflections for A Deeper Spiritual Life.  My readers are welcome to click on that title and read the new blog.   I will continue to write this blog for Sundays and Holy Days.   Thank you for reading.   I hope you will continue reading here and at Simple Reflections.

 

 

Blog Reflection 

 

Thomas Keating in his book: The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience writes the following.

The beginning of the Sermon on the Mount contains a number of affirmations called the beatitudes that summarize Jesus' teaching about the truth nature of happiness. 

Hence, the emphasis in Jesus' ministry on repentance, which means "change the direction in which you are looking for happiness."  The beatitudes came out of the heart of Jesus when he looked at the multitudes  that were following him and realized with infinite compassion that "they were like sheep without a shepherd,"  all going their own way - that is, nowhere at a great rate.  "Jetting to nowhere" summarizes in modern language the projects of the first three energy centers.  The beatitudes give us some insight into how to dismantle them and to move toward true happiness (pages 94-95).

As Anglicans and Episcopalians, we believe in the world wide Communion of Saints.  Our believe is that "all saints" means exactly that.  All are saints with the potential for sainthood in the Reign of God in the here and now.  We are all part of that multitude that is beyond count in the Revelation of John. What makes us saints is the work of the grace of God in our lives.  As God's holy people, we are empowered by God's Holy Spirit live into an authentic expression of our Baptismal Vows to make a difference in the Church and society.

 

The Saints that have made up the Tradition of the Church were imperfect women and men just like we are.  They faced insurmountable challenges to live their faith while making many mistakes due to their own biases because of misinformation.  Yet, Jesus Christ was their Lord and Savior as He is ours.   It was because of the redemption brought by the Paschal Mystery of Christ that they contributed to the evolving truth about Jesus and the Church.  That same mystery of salvation empowers us today, in this moment, in this place, for the purpose in which we are right now; as we are enriched by "the great cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1) that continue to give us an example of how to live holy lives.    

I believe the readings for All Saints Day point us to what being a Saint is about.  They tell us that the path to true happiness so as to follow Jesus; is about recognizing our need for God if we are to find fulfillment in our lives.   It is about recognizing the presence of Christ in all persons, and surrendering ourselves to God's will by trusting in God even when nothing in life seems to make sense.  It is in those moments that the unconditional and all inclusive love of God is never far away.  God is always reaching out to and for us through others.   How ready are we to respond to God?

Our world is riddled with violence, depression, darkness, prejudice and injustice.  None of it is of God's doing or making.  I do not agree with those who interpret Job 1 to suggest that "nothing evil happens to us that has not first passed through the throne of God."   Yet, God works God's will for our best interests through all of these things.  

 

Through the evil of racism for example, God inspired individuals like Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King to rise up in civil disobedience to make the case that African Americans should not be regarded as second class citizens.   The families of Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown and those who want justice for their deaths carry on the legacy of the civil rights movement today.

 

A few individuals at Stonewall in 1969 rose up to say no to the police brutality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people; and so began the movement towards a greater equality under the law.  Their historical work gave rise to the work of Harvey Milk, Louie Clay, Bishop V. Gene Robinson and more.

The parents of Matthew Shepard would not allow their grief of the brutal beating that caused his death to keep them from doing something to benefit others.   Judy Shepard's devotion to Matthew helped her to speak up for the safety of LGBT People to be kept safer through the Hate Crimes Bill signed into law just a few years ago.  She continues her advocacy today.

 

One woman who's child was killed because of a drunk driver put herself forward to begin Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).  

 

Individuals who are tired of the injustice of "illegal" immigrants being deported out of our country, are continuing to call for immigration reform.   

 

Episcopalians who have had it with schools and communities going through the horror of violence out of control at gun point have organized Episcopalians Against Gun Violence.  We do not rejoice about the violence, but we can embrace the transformational grace of God and cooperate with the Holy Spirit to bring about God's Reign of justice, equality and peace for all people.

Today, in this moment God is calling upon us to make a difference in the Church and society.  All of us have the opportunity to do our part as members of the Communion of Saints, by responding to God's movement in our lives.   Let us all pray for each other that we will have the strength to respond in obedience out of love for the honor and glory of God.  

Amen.

Prayers

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son
Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those
ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love
you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy
Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for All Saints.  The Book of Common Prayer.  p.245).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.260).