November 2, 2008 Sermon
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All Saints Sunday 2008
November 2, 2008 Allan Conkling
At Convention in Abilene we sang a hymn that I haven't heard in years. As the offertory was brought forward, the congregation was brought to their feet to the words,
I sing a song of the saints of God, patient and brave and true
Who toiled and fought and lived and died for the Lord they loved and knew. And one was a doctor, and one was a queen and one was a shepherdess on the green: they were all of them saints of God and I mean, God helping, to be one too.
In
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses...let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us."
They cheer us on to victory. They support us as we run the race of life with courage. Saints are everywhere, living and dead. We have only to open ourselves to their presence and follow their example.
Today is also one of the few days when we read from the Book of Revelation. The image of our loved ones, robed in white, circling the throne of God is a comfort and consolation:
"They will hunger no more, and thirst no more...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."
Throughout history there have been countless examples of faithful people, the Big Name saints, who lived and died for what they believed. We know them: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John; St. Paul, St. Mary. But don't forget the "small saints" as well. These are the ones: grandparents, the teacher, the scout leader, an aunt, uncle, friend or mentor, who cared enough to tell you about Christ, or bring you to church, or just pray even when you didn't know it. Nothing, not even death can separate us from their love. We call this the "Communion of Saints."
In the Gospel Jesus spoke to the crowds on the hillside and revealed a world which was like the tip of an iceberg. We see the outward and visible things but just below the surface is found mystical world of God's Kingdom. God's kingdom is healing, and redemption. God's kingdom is freedom for the oppressed, open arms for the outcast, and the defeat of evil. God's Kingdom is given to each one of us, not to possess, not to own or to hoard. Rather it is given to us to extend and share with others. This is the world of the saints.
For Christians, vision isn't about eyesight but imagining the world as God would see it. This is the world of infinite possibilities. How we live our lives and how we set our priorities; what we do with our things, all can be seen from the point of view of the One who created us, sustains us, who loves us. God frees us from fear, doubt, and anxiety to be all that we can be.
The challenge is to envision faith not as something one ever attains. You can't possess faith. You can only live it and desire to make it yours inside. The ones who are often our best examples of selflessness and fidelity are the least likely to think of themselves that way.
Yet, even if we fail again and again to live up to God’s vision for us, God never stops calling us. The Christian "vocation" demands the best from us. The good news is God loves us and accepts our offerings of our selves our lives, our time, talents, treasures...and our frailties. All can be used for the growing of the Kingdom.
This morning we worship in the presence of the multitude of the saints in light. How many countless prayers have gone heavenward from these pews? How many have received strength and encouragement from this altar? We stand with them in "the mystic sweet communion of those whose rest is won." We stand upon their shoulders, and I pray in our time that we do as well for those who come after us.
Jesus, thy name we
bless,
And humbly pray that we
May follow them in holiness,
Who lived and died for thee.
(Hymn 279)
You can meet them in
school, or in lanes, or at sea,
In church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea,
For the saints of God are just folk like me,
And I mean to be one too.
(Hymn 293)
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Revised: 11/10/08