Today we observe All Saints. Because it is an important celebration, we need to come to some agreement on what is meant by a "saint." If you Google the word, you discover many different definitions and understandings. Among some Protestant groups, every Christian becomes a saint upon joining the "Church Triumphant." In that understanding, All Saints honors and remembers all who have died in Christ and sainthood is the designation of all deceased Christians. Among other Protestants, saints are understood, not only as Christians who have died, but also as the living Christians who lead exemplary lives of faith or who serve as extraordinary teachers of the faith. The Roman Catholic church has a narrower understanding and well-defined process concerning sainthood. The designation of saint is bestowed only on those who have met certain stringent requirements — particularly those in heaven who experience the deepest joy, happiness, and blessedness that comes only by meeting God face-to-face, i.e., those who have attained a beatific vision.
For today's All Saints observance, let us work with an understanding of sainthood that includes all of these definitions. Let us consider saints as people of faith, living or dead. Let us think of a saint as a great teacher of the faith. Let us also understand sainthood as the experience of attaining the deepest joy, happiness, and blessedness that life has to offer. Imagine saints as the people who have come to know God face-to-face. Not only that, think of saints as those who, by their lives, give us a glimpse of the nature of God and God's ways. Saints live abundant lives because they are awakened to the presence of God. In turn, they awaken us to God's presence among us.
As we observe All Saints, I want each of you to ponder questions like: Who are the people who have played or now play the role of saint in your life? Who have been your role models for Christian living? Who has provoked meaningful, positive change in the direction of your life? Who are the people who have moved you closer to God? During your journey, who have you met who radiates a blessed joy that could come from no other source than having caught a glimpse of God? Your answers these questions will reveal the identity of the saints you have encountered. Let us remember and give thanks for these saints today.
The lectionary gospel reading for today comes from Luke 6:20-31. The opening verses are Luke's version of the Beatitudes. They differ a bit from Matthew's Beatitudes. Portions of this pericope reads, "Blessed are you who are poor… Blessed are you who are hungry now… Blessed are you who weep… Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man" (vv. 20-22).
The Greek word in this passage behind the English notion of "blessed" is makarios. Its history and use is long and complicated. When we chase it into a corner and look at it closely, markarios refers to joy that is not dependent on circumstances.[1] Often people say, "I would be happy if I was rich, if I could solve this problem, if I was healthier, if I could defeat my enemies, if I was more loved and appreciated." Makarios is the joy, the bliss, the happiness, that is not dependent on outward circumstances. It is the peace that passes all understanding. It is the joy of the beatific vision, the joy of the saints.
Jane was a newly ordained minister called to her first pastoral charge. Harold was an elderly, retired minister and member of the congregation she served. Jane was early on the learning curve of translating the Bible and theology lessons of the seminary classroom into the practice of parish ministry. Harold possessed four decades of experience that had been hammered, polished, and shaped into useful tools for ministerial practice. Harold was quick to warn Jane when he feared she might step on a pastoral landmine. On the other hand, he was ceaseless in encouraging her to develop what he saw as her considerable gifts for ministry.
During her first two years in that congregation, Jane and Harold had frequent, extended conversations on how to present the great mysteries of faith in understandable ways to the people in the pews. With Harold's encouragement, Jane's confidence in ministry grew. When they first met, Jane knew she benefited from the lessons Harold taught on parish ministry. Eventually, she realized that knowing Harold was as valuable as the lessons he taught. Harold radiated the love of Christ. Simply being in the presence of the joy of his faith seemed to strengthen Jane.
The day came when Harold neared death. Jane stood by the hospital bedside. For a moment, she set aside her role as Harold's caring pastor and became his eager student. "Help me understand," she said. "What it is like to know you are about to die? I know appropriate Bible passages. I have read the great theologians. I can cite the pious cliques and easy answers. I need to know what it is really like to move from life to death. As a person of faith making this transition, tell me what you are thinking and feeling right now."
Her friend looked up from his hospital bed and smiled. As if he had been waiting for her to ask, he immediately responded, "I have come to think of it this way. It is like being a small boy playing in the side yard with friends. Your mother calls you to say that it is time to go to the birthday party of another friend. Now you don't mind going to the birthday party. In fact, you are really looking forward to it.
You just want to stay and play with these friends as long as possible."
In the twenty years since his death, Jane has treasured that and other memories of her friendship with Harold. He was a transformational mentor. She still reviews the lessons he taught about the practice of ministry and she regularly gives thanks to God for all the ways Harold helped to shape her practical theology. In addition, Jane's friendship with Harold served to awaken in her a deepened understanding of the abundance of life that comes by being faithful to God's call in Christ Jesus. To Jane, Harold was a saint.
Do you have anyone in your life who influenced you the way Harold influenced Jane — a teacher, parent, friend, family member, or perhaps a minister? Give honor and give thanks to the saints who have made a difference in your life.
While there are some people who are likely choices for being thought a saint, there are others who are unlikely. Until recently, few would have predicted that Dan had saintly potential. He is just another ordinary guy. Most think of him as simply a good husband and neighbor who goes to church every week if he doesn't play golf, go fishing, or find something else to do on Sunday morning. Dan has worked many years for the same company doing the same thing. His job is nothing out of the ordinary. He even describes his work as "eight hours every day building a stack of papers on the left of my desk by reading and then moving papers from the stack on the right."
Not only does Dan's job sound boring, most who know him have concluded that adjective fits Dan's life. He never hurt anyone but Dan never thought it important to help anyone either. He is just a neighbor down the street. He doesn't take risks and he always seems immune to trying anything new. Most people consider Dan to be as steady as a rock and about as interesting.
For that reason, people were surprised when Dan became a Big Brother to a poor, inner-city teenager from a single-parent home. No one could have predicted that. Dan had few credentials for the task. He had not expressed any previous concern for the poor. Dan was not known as open-minded on matters of race. He didn't even seem to like teenagers. In spite of that, Dan became deeply involved in this young man's life.
Recently, Dan requested a day's leave from work. This was an unusual request. Dan seldom asked for time off. His supervisor inquired, "For what purpose?"
Dan told him about becoming a Big Brother to this young man named DeMonte. He explained that before he knew him, DeMonte had gotten in trouble with the law. Now he had an upcoming court appearance and Dan wanted to be there to support him. "His mother can't get the day off her job. He has no other family."
Dan went on to explain that being with this young man had not been a particularly pleasant experience. In fact, at times, it had been extremely difficult. However, it had been one of the most important things he had done as a Christian. It had been a very meaningful way for him to put my faith into action. "I must be in court with my friend DeMonte next Thursday," Dan concluded.
His family and friends agree. This is not typical behavior for Dan. He normally doesn't do difficult things. Now he is insisting on it. Even when it is convenient, he normally doesn't reach out to help members of his extended family. Now he is going out of his way to be supportive of a stranger on the other side of the city. Dan usually feels anxious about driving through inner-city neighborhoods. Now he feels compelled to face this fear. People have openly wondered, "What has gotten into Dan?"
That is hard to know for sure. Perhaps Dan has encountered what artist and storyteller, Brian Andreas, identifies as the "Angels of Mercy." Andreas writes,
Most people don't know there are
angels whose only job is to make sure
you don't get too comfortable
and fall asleep and miss your life.[2]
Dan certainly had gotten too comfortable. He was dozing and missing the abundance of life promised by God through faith in Christ Jesus. Perhaps one of those Angels of Mercy disturbed Dan, woke him up to the needs of others, and rescued him from missing his life.
It is far too early to know where the story of Dan and DeMonte will go. If it has a happy ending thirty or forty years hence, DeMonte might remember Dan, the man from the suburbs who drove into the city to be his friend when he was struggling to grow up. Perhaps DeMonte will think of Dan as one of the saints he has known.
This is the day set aside to honor and give thanks for the saints. Can you name the saints in your life? A saint is a person of faith living or dead. You might know a saint who is a particularly good role model of Christian living or perhaps a saintly teacher of the Christian faith. Saints are the people who experience the deepest joy, happiness, and blessedness that life has to offer. Saints are the people who have come to know God face-to-face. Saints live abundant lives because they are awakened to the presence of God. In turn, they awaken us.
The day may come when DeMonte will think of Dan as a saint in his life. Jane already claims Harold as a saintly presence. What about you? Do you know people who have made a saintly impression on your life? Give thanks and praise to God for the saints. Amen and Amen.
1. William Barclay, The New Daily Bible Study Series: The Gospel of Matthew (Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2001), pp. 103-105.
2. Brian Andreas, "Angels of Mercy" (Decorah, Iowa: 2012 Story People Calendar), June 2012.