Tears Wiped Away (Isaiah 25.6-9) Nov. 7, 2021

As we head toward the holidays, there comes a time when we slow down to remember those that have gone before us. It is said that we stand on the shoulders of giants and this is true. How many of us were able to go to college or to work in a job we wanted to because someone went before us and blazed a trail? How many of us are able to enjoy the liberties that we do because people before us endured the struggles to make it possible for us? And how many of us today enjoy the things of the church because of those who were here before us and who led the way? We owe a lot to the saints that came before us. And today it is proper that we look back to those who came before and reflect on what, how and why they did what they did. But in looking back, we are called to look forward as well. Those who came before us looked forward to a time when those who came after them (that includes us) would be able to enjoy the fruits of their labors.

But first things first. As we celebrate All Saints Day, we must ask ourselves what is a saint? Is it someone who has gone before us and who has lived a godly life? Someone who has set a standard for us to follow that will never be lived up to? Or is there something more to being a saint?

A closer look shows that saints are not just those who have gone before us in life and in death, but rather all those in the church who are both living and dead. In the Second Testament all Christians are named as saints. In 8 of Paul’s letters, the term saints is used in the greeting, meaning that all those hearing are saints. In some traditions saints are those who have been declared by the church to have been special people who lived lives that were godlier than others (though most of them would have been surprised to hear this). They are the ones celebrated on All Saints Day. All other Christians who have died are remembered on the day after which is commonly called All Souls Day. But in the Protestant tradition we follow what Paul said, that all are saints and should be celebrated on All Saints Day.

As we look to the past saints who have gone before us, we also look to the future that they envisioned as well as we do. In Isaiah there is the foretelling of a great banquet that all peoples will attend. While this is on Mount Zion where God was said to have a special place, it is not just Israel that will enjoy this feast. It is to be, again, for all people. The food and the wine will be the best that can be served for the people to enjoy and they will be in God’s presence. This is similar to the stories of the great banquets that Jesus talks about in his parables. That it is on Mount Zion where Jerusalem stood is akin to the city coming down in Revelation chapter 21. There will be feasting with the richest food and the best wines. No expense spared as the saying goes.

But there is more to the future of the coming of the Lord. The shroud and the sheet that cover all the peoples Isaiah says will be destroyed. Most commentators say that this is death, the one thing that wraps up all people. Death is what makes all people equal. One day, we will all die. But in this text, we are told that what wraps around us will be destroyed.

In fact, verse 8 tells us that death will be swallowed up. Paul gives us this good news in 1 Cor. 15.54 when he says that death has been swallowed up in victory. Death will no longer have a hold on humanity. Paul would not have said this had he not believed that something greater was coming. That death had indeed been defeated by the death and resurrection of Jesus. Now, Paul knew that death was still around. There was no denying this. But Paul also knew that the victory and sting of death had been removed. Death no longer held sway. Jesus had conquered death.

Isaiah is saying the same thing here. God will swallow up death like a great fish swallows up its prey in its mouth. It, like the fish’s prey, will be no more.

But there is more. Verse eight tells us that God will wipe away the tears from all faces. Again, this is not just Israel, but all nations and all faces. Death will be no more for all the nations and tears will be wiped away. Revelation expands on this theme: “he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more[1]”. There will be no more pain in mourning those who have gone before because they will be with us once more as death has been defeated.

We celebrate today the feast of the Lord’s Supper. I believe that it is appropriate that this day is the day of our celebration. Isaiah speaks of a banquet where the richest foods and the best wines are to be served. We will be celebrating where the body and blood of Christ will be given to each and every one of us. As we celebrate this feast, we are reminded that we are celebrating with those who have gone before us as they celebrate the feast with the one who makes this feast possible, Jesus Christ.

This is a day when we remember all those who have gone before us. Those who have departed and are now in glory with God. And we mourn their loss. We mourn that we will not see them again until we are in glory ourselves or until that day that we look for when Jesus will return and make all things new. Until that time we can only look back at the time that we had with those saints and we mourn. And it is okay to mourn. We know that they are in glory, but we wish that they were here with us.

But we must remember to be looking forward. Those who have gone before us looked forward to the day when death would finally be conquered and all things made new.

Jared E. Alcantara says this about All Saints Day and looking forward: Although All Saints’ Day connects people to the past as they remember those who went behind them, it also connects them to the future as they await that which lies before them. In the Apostles’ Creed, Christians confess: “We believe in the communion of saints,” thus declaring that they are enrolled in a story much larger than their story, one that includes death but does not conclude with it. When they confess: “He was crucified, dead, and buried,” they remember that Christ walked the via dolorosa in order to put death on notice that it could not abide forever. When they confess: “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” they proclaim the same truth that Isaiah 25 proclaims, that someday the grave will be emptied of its power, and death will be swallowed up by new life.[2]

This day, this All-Saints Day, let us look forward to the day when the tears from all faces will be wiped away, when death will be swallowed up in victory and all things will be made new. Let us not forget those who came before us but let us also honor the vision that they held as they looked forward to what lay ahead. Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989. Print. [2]Joel B. Green, Thomas G. Long, Luke A. Powery, Cynthia L. Rigby & Carolyn J. Sharp. Connections: Year B, Volume 3 (Connections: A Lectionary Commentary for Preaching and Worship) (p. 427). Presbyterian Publishing Corporation. Kindle Edition.