ALL Saints

Luke 6:20–31 ESV

And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets. “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

Ephesians 1:11–23 ESV

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:11-

ALL Saints’ Day

This morning as we celebrate All Saints Sunday, we remember our connection to one another, and to all Christians across time and space. It’s a particularly bittersweet one at St. Andrews as we both mourn the passing of and celebrate the new life of Sam Duerr, who left this side of creation this week to be with God.

Next week, we will have more full than usual pews at Emsworth Presbyterian because of the 150th anniversary celebration.

Both of these celebrations have something in common: they tend to point us to what was. And that’s ok in certain contexts. We need a rear-view mirror.

But it can be easy to become discouraged by dwindling numbers in churches around the country or to reflect with an unhealthy dose of nostalgia on how things used to be, to wish saints gone by back into our midst. Sometimes, we get stuck looking in the rearview mirror and forget to look at the windshield so we don’t drive into oncoming traffic or hit a tree.

The reason we like looking at the past is because it’s a way to say, “We made it through that!” If we are feeling particularly down, we can look to the happier times and remember the goodness we saw. It makes us feel better about uncertainty in the future because hey! We got this far! We have had good times before, we can have them again! It’s comfortable, especially when given days like All Saints’ Day or an anniversary celebration to look only to the past, to stay insular, staring at only ourselves.

It can be easy to sit in our comfort and not worry about anyone outside these walls - to focus on keeping ourselves comfortable. But we forget too easily the fact that it’s not just those of us sitting in this congregation this morning who are worshipping together. One of my commentaries shared a great story:

The Canadian preacher John Gladstone tells the story of a young English clergyman who served a small congregation. It was his custom at evening services to administer the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper to any parishioners who remained at the conclusion of the service. One night so few stayed that he questioned whether the sacrament should be observed, but he decided to proceed. In the midst of the liturgy, he read part of the Great Prayer that says, “Therefore, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious name.” He read it again, “With angels and archangels and all the company of heaven …” Then he prayed, “God forgive me. I did not realize I was in such company.”

(Robert E. Dunham, “Homiletical Perspective,” in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year C, ed. David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, vol. 4 (Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2010), 231–233.)

Regardless of how many of us are sitting here this morning, Christ’s glory is proclaimed. We do not have a monopoly on praising the Lord. We do not have a monopoly on God’s protection and promises. We are here for a much larger purpose than our own comfort.

According to the New Testament language, all God’s followers are considered saints. And all Saints are connected to one another through God. Which means when a black church in Mississippi burns at the hands of fear and racism, we are called to weep and cry out with them. When the country is angry and fearful and divided by mean, divisive politics, we are to champion unity and love. When another saint is hurting or struggling, we are to offer them all we have to help them back up again. When someone says something terrible to us, we are to respond in loving words and kindness.

One of my favorite saints who has passed on to the other side of creation is Saint Joe of the northside. He died almost exactly 3 years ago and everyone at our home church mourned the loss of gentle Saint Joe. 

At first look, most people would cross the street to avoid him. He had two long, wild braids of hair on his head and an out of control beard. He rarely showered, if ever, and he wore ragged clothes held up by a rope belt. He could be seen walking all over the north side of Pittsburgh and many people knew him to see him. He was often referred to as “Crazy Joe” or “Wild Joe.” But nearly every Sunday morning at 11, he was at church. He sat in the back, often alone, because he knew how people looked at him.

Sure, Joe had some problems, but when it came down to it, he had a heart of gold. He once spotted our pastor from across Market Square on a Saturday morning and rushed to him with a shoebox. He had an injured pigeon in the box and begged the pastor to take it home for his wife to care for because Joe knew he himself couldn’t make it well again. I don’t remember how that story ended, to be honest. I do know that the pastor did not take the dying pigeon home with him, and that Joe’s compassion for God’s creation shone in that moment. 

One Christmas Eve, when Gloria was no more than 3 or 4, she sat in the back of the sanctuary on the floor with Joe, chatting with him and worshipping with him. It was one of the holiest things I’ve ever witnessed: two saints - one old and ragged, one new and innocent - worshipping together on the holiest night.

Anyone who gave Joe the time to listen knew what a gentle, loving soul he was. Anyone who stopped judging him by his wild appearance knew that he loved God with all his heart. He had some serious problems in his life, but he sought God with all he had to offer. You never know who the saints really are. You don’t know who is offering all they have to offer. The less you have to give up, the easier it is to offer all you have: physically, emotionally, financially. . . The more you have to give up, the harder it is to offer all you have. My 3 year old didn’t have much to offer other than friendship to another of God’s children and she gave it freely. Joe didn’t have much to offer either, but he offered it all.

On All Saints Day, we celebrate our connection to other Christians across time and space because division and isolation are counter to the gospel. Judgement and putting people in categories is counter to the gospel. Deciding - either consciously or subconsciously - that someone else is “in” or “out” is counter to the gospel. You never know if the saints will look like Theresa or Martin Luther King Jr, or Sam Duerr, or if they’ll look like Joe. Today, we celebrate how wonderful and diverse and dangerous and uncomfortable and surprising this unity to one another can be. 

The account of the Beatitudes in Matthew is the more well known wording, but here in Luke we see the same trend. Jesus looks at the unjust way the world around him is working, he finds the places in which the world has settled into a pattern that is counter to the way of God’s Kingdom. And then he turns them on their heads. He tells us in no uncertain terms that we have no right to judge who the saints are and aren’t.

Who will receive the Kingdom of God? The poor. Who will receive ultimate satisfaction? Those who are hungry now. Who receives the gift of laughter for eternity? Those who have suffered sorrow now. Those who are hated and bullied and treated poorly and pushed to the margins and looked at with suspicion and disgust are the ones who will be more richly blessed than we can imagine.

These are uncomfortable words for those of us who have what we need, who are well fed, who laugh more than we cry, and who are well liked and supported and are part of the religious majority in our homeland. 

We can almost put this off as just being comfort for those having a hard time. But then, just when we’re beginning to squirm in our seats and make excuses, Jesus turns up the heat on us even more. 

Those of you who have what you need now and are sitting content in your comfort? Those who have plenty to eat and much to laugh about? Enjoy it while you have it, because it’s got an expiration date. Popular now? Watch out because those who sell their souls to the false gods of power and popularity like the false prophets of old did have nothing waiting for them when their time here runs out. 

If that doesn’t feel like a punch in the gut, you might need to read it again later in your alone time with God.

Jesus meant this to be quite uncomfortable. 

If you are comfortable now, be prepared

We have no way of knowing who is really following God with all they can offer. Therefore, we must treat all people as though they are or will one day be united to us in Christ. All people are beloved by God. When other people are poor, or hungry, or full of sorrow, we cannot ignore them. They are a beloved part of God’s Kingdom. We are to reach out to them. Even if we don’t like them. Revenge? Not in God’s Kingdom. Taking back from those we perceive a slight from? Not if you’re going to take Jesus’ words seriously. He is not talking in metaphor or hyperbole here. While Jesus does sometimes speak in confusing metaphors and parables, that is not the case here. He is being quite direct. 

Love your enemies.

Do good to those who hate you.

Bless those who curse you.

Pray for those who mistreat you. 

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. 

If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. 

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 

Do to others as you would want them to do to you.

Let’s face it, we all do a pretty lousy job of that most of the time, because this is not easy to do. Nobody wants to feel taken advantage of. Nobody wants to feel like human justice hasn’t been served. Nobody just naturally wants to give up hard earned assets to someone else. All of us want to feel like the people around us like us. 

But the homeless man, ignored on the side of the road by Christian and atheist alike. . . is blessed. . . is considered by God. . . is not forgotten by the very maker of the universe. Even though we walk on past, shake our heads in disgust, assume we know why he’s sitting there on the side of the road.

Our Jewish sisters and brothers, still mourning a year later over the horrific massacre of 11 of them during their sacred worship time. . . God extends comfort to them. . . they are considered by God, not forgotten. Even though many of us haven’t thought much about that tragic day until this anniversary got closer, God has not forgotten. Not for one moment.

The earthquake or typhoon victims on the other side of the planet who we say we’ll pray for, maybe send money to, but ultimately leave to fend for themselves? They are blessed. . . considered by God. . . they are not forgotten by the very maker of the universe. Even though we carry on with our safe, comfortable lives without a tear, “tsk tsk” at what a shame it is they are without food while we gather around overstuffed tables and throw away entire meals worth of leftovers. 

There is no “if they are Christians” in this passage. No “love your Christian enemies.” Just. . . love your enemies. No “don’t hit other Christians back when they hurt you.” Just. . . don’t seek revenge. Ever. Give generously and even ridiculously. . . not just to other Christians, but to everyone. We are to love everyone as God loves everyone. It’s dangerous and ridiculous and really, really, really hard to do. And it’s completely backwards to what the world says we’re supposed to be acting like.

Because our inclusion in God’s Kingdom is not dependent on doing all the right things, we cannot assume we can look at a person and judge how worthy they are or how saved they are. You cannot know what God has planned for them. You cannot truly know what is in their heart or what will one day be in their heart. You have no idea what their resources or story are or what they are really offering to God.

We saw a beautiful movie last night on a whim and it was the best whim we’ve acted on in a while. We saw “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” It’s the sequel to a live action spin on “Sleeping Beauty” that came out a few years ago in which the Maleficent, the dark fairy who cursed Princess Aurora, is not as clearly evil or one dimensional as she is made out to be in the original and the parents of Princess Aurora (as well as Prince Philips’ parents in this sequel) are not so wholesome as they are made out to be originally.

In this sequel - which I highly recommend, but watch the first one first - someone starts a war between the fairy kingdom and the human kingdom. They want the resources that the other has, so they purposely spread fear throughout the kingdom to whip people up into a frenzy for war.

Princess Aurora and her true love, Prince Philip, are as wholesome and innocent as they are in the originals and it’s their goodness and kindness that ultimately saves everyone in both the human kingdom and the fairy kingdom. As it’s a Disney movie, I don’t feel like this is a terrible spoiler to say that ultimately, everyone learns that the other is not the terrible evil they were taught to think they were. They learn to see that they are not so different after all and that caring for one another, in spite of their differences, ultimately makes everyone stronger.

“We are defined not by who we are, but by who we love.” - a quote from the movie “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”.

I am deeply troubled by the division it has caused even in Christian communities. This is not what we are called to. We do not have to all agree. We do not all have to like the outcome this week. What we do have to do is continue to love one another, regardless of how much we like one another. What we do have to do is continue to love one another, share generously, stand up for the justice and fair treatment of all people, welcome the stranger, turn the other cheek, and treat others how we ourselves would like to be treated. 

“We are defined not by who we are, but by who we love.” - a quote from the movie “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”.

Let us here be defined not by who we are and especially not by who we were, but by who we love. Let’s honor those who have gone before us by continuing into the future, using the rearview mirror only as reference, not as guidance. And let us continue God’s mission of love and unity and acceptance in the world, lest we miss out on the holy moments with saints like Joe. 

I encourage you that no matter how you feel about whatever happens on Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. . . Christ is bigger. . . your brothers and sisters in Christ are still your brothers and sisters in Christ. . . our calling does not change - our calling to speak of unity and of God’s love to all people. 

Regardless of what happens Tuesday and Wednesday this week, let us all remember what we are really here for. Let us all remember to love one another, for we don’t know who the saints are or will be. And let us continue God’s mission of love and unity and acceptance in the world, lest we miss out on the holy moments with saints like Joe. 

“We are defined not by who we are, but by who we love.” - a quote from the movie “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”.

Reflection/journal questions

Are there people in your life who you struggle to see as those who are or may one day be united to you in Jesus? 

Why do you find it hard to accept them as readily as some of your other brothers and sisters? 

How might you reach out to them in love?

Spend some time journaling about someone who moved this year from this side of creation to the next. Think about the influence they had on your life and thank God for them. 

Living out the word

Connect with saints from another place by listening to some other church services or sermons online or talking to friends from another church about their service this week. 

Do something nice for somebody you don’t like or don’t normally interact with.

Note about the referenced movies:

Pray for our new president on Wednesday (whether you like her/him or not) and pray that the division we have seen growing in our country over the past year would heal.

I looked it up this morning, and you can watch Maleficent from 2014 on Hulu.com and you can rent the dvd on Netflix or buy it on Amazon. If you’re still watching movies on VHS, I can’t help you here.

Maleficent: Mistress of Evil is available now in theaters.