All Saints Sunday Revelation 21:1-6a & John 11:32-44 1 November, 2009
It's my understanding that over in Willmar, Minnesota there is a church called, Vinje Lutheran.
And I am told that the church was built in the form of a circle and all around the sanctuary are the names of all the saints of ages past—biblical saints, saints from church history and some of the more contemporary saints.
At the end of the list there is still space left for a couple more names, and as one person has mentioned, "There is room for your name and mine, since we belong there too."
Back in my home congregation, St. John's Lutheran in Lakeville, where my late father served for 27 some years, they did something similar.
The sanctuary is made of red brick and they created a row of bricks where each brick has the name of one of the faithful witnesses who we remember and commemorate.
There were folks like:
Martin Luther, reformer of the church.
Rasmus Jensen, first Lutheran pastor in North America.
John & Charles Wesley, reformers of the church.
Dietrich Bonheoffer, teacher and martyr.
Johann Sebastian Bach, musician.
Dag Hammarskjold, peacemaker.
And the list goes on…
Back before St. John's outgrew their building and built a brand new church and back when I could return home for a visit I would look up at that list of names and then I would notice all the remaining bricks and it occurred to me that they ought to add the name of every person who had ever been baptized, confirmed and worshiped within those brick walls.
Rather than limiting the list to a select few, they could use the occasion to celebrate the entire communion of saints who have shared their faith and been part of the body of Christ.
I say this because when we talk about all the saints we are talking about a lot of people, some of whom we might recognize and most of which we would not.
When I think about saints I am reminded of one of the members at Bethany Lutheran in Cushing Minnesota, one of my first parishes.
Her name was Lyla Nygard.
Lyla was 102 years old when she passed away at her home where she lived by herself.
Her funeral was the last funeral I performed at that church.
If you were to ever meet Lyla it did not take long to discover that her priorities consisted of her family, the tiny community of Cushing and her church, Bethany Lutheran.
When her children were younger Lyla made sure they were in church each Sunday.
And everyone who met Lyla quickly discovered what was going on in her church.
And I do mean her, church; Lyla could be rather possessive at times when it came to Bethany.
And I suppose her possessiveness was justifiable as she was the center of the women's organization, she was the organist longer than I have been alive, she taught in every capacity from Sunday School to confirmation to the women's Bibles studies.
And she was never afraid to teach a thing or two to this young wet behind the ears pastor.
Lyla was truly a saint and yet I suspect you won't find her on any list than maybe mine.
So what is a saint?
Simply put, saints are ordinary people who live out their faith in daily life.
They are people whose faith shines in the midst of darkness.
They are people with whom you know you will find an non-anxious presence, a non-judging ear to listen, and a heart willing to welcome fellow saints and sinners alike with generous hospitality.
They are individuals who more often than not are quietly working behind the scenes, getting things done.
Saints are individuals who are quick to point to Christ rather than to themselves.
And more often than not, they are people who would be embarrassed if they heard us calling them saints.
Can you think of any saints?
Are there individuals that come to mind?
Are there particular saints that have stood out in your life?
And what particular saintly characteristics stand out?
It has been my observation that saints are individuals who are not unfamiliar with struggles as they are people who have wrestled with matters of faith.
They are people like Jacob who wrestled with God and who came away changed, transformed.
Saints are those chiseled individuals who have been tested, who have had their rough edges worn and smoothed down.
Saints are individuals who choose to trust and take a risk when practical experience would teach them otherwise.
Saints are those faithful folks who climb into Christ wheelbarrow and allow him to take them through life's dark valleys in order to experience the joy of reaching the other side.
Saints are those who have come from a world where "looking out for #1" is the norm, and who have been transformed into individuals who care for the neglected and the ignored and have come to realize that looking out for #1 only leaves you standing by yourself.
Who are the saints?
Today we have made a point to remember those saints who are near and dear to us, who have passed away this past year:
Rosalee
Rosella
Tom
Marie
John
Walter
Dennis
These are our saints who have completed their journey here on earth.
They have found rest from their labors.
In the spirit of widening the circle of saints I would suggest that we also add the names of those who have just begun their journey of faith, names such as:
William Jeffery Stelter
Gabriella Raine McFarland
Adrienne Ella Rotz
Brianna Elaine Hasz
These are the names of those who have been baptized this past year.
Having been baptized they too have joined the priesthood of all believers, the community of saints, the body of Christ.
These little ones are our newest saints and while they might still be wet behind the ear, their "saintliness" is just as valid as those of Bonheoffer, Luther and Mother Teresa.
In the 7th chapter of the Book of Revelation there is a great to do about numbers and lists regarding who was going stand before the throne of God.
I believe we can take a clue from our brothers and sisters at Vinje Lutheran in Willmar and our names to that list as we too have been created in the image of God and claimed in the waters of baptism.
I believe we can add our names to that list when ever we acknowledge to whom we belong and when we acknowledge that we have been blessed in order to be a blessing to others.
I believe we can add our names to that list of saints when we also confess we are also sinners in need of a redeemer, a Savior.
Even though we might deny Christ like Saint Peter, or argue like Saint Paul—we are saints.
Even though we might stand before Christ with a shady past like Mary Magdalene, or unscrupulous ethics like the tax collectors Saint Matthew or Zachaeus—we stand before Christ only because we know and trust that God has created us, claimed us, redeemed us and refuses to let go of us even when we might fuss and fume and rebel.
We are saints, like those of ages past simply because God refuses to renege on some very generous promises and continues to demonstrate amazing grace and forgiveness.
As children of God, we have been blessed by God to be saints in his image.
As disciples of Jesus Christ we are all sinners who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ.
As baptized children of God we too will join all the saints on the mountain of the Lord and partake in a feast of rich food and well-aged wines.
As people who have faced our fair share of pain and suffering, we too have had our tears wiped away by our God who makes his home among mere mortals.
And lastly, as our brother Lazarus was raised from the dead, we too will one day arise and be free to join all the saints in light.
Therefore in honor of those who have gone before us and as examples for those who will follow us, let us live our lives reflecting the image of God, allowing God's grace and mercy to shine through us each and every day.
And may we welcome and embrace the blessings of God and in turn share those blessings with our neighbors in need and to the glory of our Lord and Savior.
Amen
Pastor Stephen Blenkush
Zion Lutheran
Milaca, MN
www.ZionMilaca.org(Sermon Archive)
