[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for All Saints' Sunday

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded: 



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Nov 5, 2016 9:39 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for All Saints' Sunday



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Happy All Saints’Sunday” or “God with Skin” and deals with all the lessons.  Here it is: 
 
Asyou know, today is a very special Sunday- All Saints’ Sunday.  All Saints is the time we thank God for allthe wonderful saints of God who have mentored us, loved us, and accepted usthrough thick and thin- not always an easy task!  This morning, I’d like us to look at saints-who we are, where we’ve come from, where we’re going, and our ultimate destiny.
 
SAINTS-WHO ARE WE?  Did you notice the“WE”?  I can’t tell you how many timespeople have told me, “Rev. Judy, you expect too much of me.  I’m not a saint, you know.”  I finally get a chance to answer with twoquestions of my own!  (1) Have youaccepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior? (2) Are you baptized?  If youanswered “yes” to both of these questions, you are a saint- maybe not a famoussaint, maybe not even a very good saint, but you are a saint, and there’salways room for improvement.  Onedefinition of a saint is simply “God putting on skin.”  A little boy was afraid of the dark, afraidof thunder storms, and afraid of all those strange noises you can often hear ina quiet, cooling house.  One night, ahuge crack of thunder frightened him out of a deep sleep.  He was out of his bed in a minute and intohis parents’ bed.  Now the last thingthey wanted was a scared child in their bed, so his mom and dad comforted him aminute, then told him to go back to his own bed. They told him to remember whathe had learned in church- that God was always with him.  “That won’t do right now!” he protested.  “I need a God with skin, and mom, dad- you’reit!”  That little boy knew what he wastalking about.  A saint is a stand-in forGod.  Think of the people you know whofeel as if they have no meaning in their lives? We saints who are working on our spiritual walk are seldom in thisconfusion for long if we’re going to church and receiving Holy Communion everySunday, reading our Bible daily, and being faithful in our prayer life.  Why? Because we are God’s wonderful instruments to finish the creating,redeeming, and sanctifying of God’s world. Do you know someone who is hurting? You’re Jesus’ hands- help them. Do you know something that needs fixing? You’re Jesus’ hands- fix it.  Doyou know something that needs creating or improving or developing ordiscovering?  You’re Jesus’ hands- doit.  You, as a saint- as a stand-in forJesus are the only God that some people will ever see.  How much more meaning could anyone want?  Do you remember the poem, “The GospelAccording to You?”  It goes: 
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke andJohn are read by more than a few.
But the one that is read most andcommented on is the gospel according to you.
You are writing a gospel, a chaptereach day, by the things that you do and the words that you say.
People read what you write, whetherfaithless or true.  Say, what is thegospel according to you?
Do others read His truth and His lovein your life, or has yours been too full of malice and strife?
Does your life speak of evil, or doesit ring true?  Say, what is the gospelaccording to you?
                                          (Anonymous)
 
SAINTS-WHERE WE’VE COME FROM: One of the things I love about All Saints’ Sunday is itgives us a chance to remember where we’ve come from- God’s heart.  We are the adopted children of God.  Our family tree is amazingly famous.  Abraham is our forefather and Sarah is our foremother.  Our ancestors include Isaac and Rebecca;Jacob and Leah and Rachel; King David; culminating in Jesus.  We have a glorious past and an even moreglorious future.  
 
SAINTS-WHERE ARE WE GOING: For me, one of the best parts of being a saint (i.e. aChristian) is that I don’t need to worry about the future, because I know whoholds the future in his hand- God, and He’s my dad- my heavenly Father, so Iknow nothing can happen to me that He and I can’t handle together.  Did you notice how the first reading remindsus to expect trouble, and that surely is correct.  In fact, if you never have to face trouble orproblems because you follow Jesus, because you choose to do the right thingregardless of peer pressure, money pressure, family pressure, or any kind ofpressure, then something is the matter with your choices or your walk.  Listen to the Ecclesiasticus lesson (2: 1-9):It not only warns us to expect trouble, but advises us how to handle it.  “1 Students, if you decide to worship andobey the Lord, be ready to face problems. 2 Have firm self-control and don'tact too quickly if trouble strikes. 3 Don't turn from the Lord, but befaithful; that's the way to succeed.  4-5Accept everything that happens.  Bepatient if others humiliate you; humiliation tests people as a furnace tests gold.  Trust the Lord if you become sick orpoor.  6 The Lord will give His help, ifyou depend only on Him and do right.  7If you fear the Lord and are patient, He will show you mercy.  But if you turn away, you will fall.  8 Put your trust in Him, and He will rewardyou.  9 Don't give up hoping for goodthings, like mercy and a life full of joy.” Did you notice how trouble tests us as a furnace tests gold.  What happens to gold in a furnace?  Sure, it comes out stronger and morepure.  Stick with Jesus, stay strongthrough trials, and you will develop amazing spiritual power and courage aswell.
 
Here’sanother difference between we saints and others not so blessed.  While they’re calling their psychic hot linesor checking what their astrological signs say will happen in the currentcrisis- and life is full of crises- always has been and always will be, we cansing with meaning, “Be not afraid, for God is in charge.”  While others are hiding from life with theiralcohol or drugs or TV programs or shopping or just being busy, busy, busy- wecan sing with meaning, “I put my troubles in God’s hands” and not only put themthere, but leave them there.  Does beinga Christian mean we are immune from trouble? Absolutely not, but with God, the sacraments, my Christian friends, theBible- I can take whatever life throws at me, and so can you and turn problemsinto opportunities and personal spiritual power.  Easy? Of course not, but worth every minute. It’s great being a saint!
 
SAINTS-OUR ULTIMATE DESTINY: Did you hear about the little girl in Sunday school?  Her teacher had just asked the class how youget to heaven, hoping she would get the Biblical answer “Believe and bebaptized.”  Up shot the little girl’shand.  Now this was one of those“goody-goody little girls” who always does everything right and always knowsthe answer, so the teacher chose her to answer. “What was the question?” the child asked.  “What do you have to do to get to heaven?”the teacher repeated.  “Oh, that’s easy,”the child answered.  “Get dead!” Not onlydo I automatically have an abundance of meaning in my life, not only do I knowwho I am and where I’ve come from, and where I’m going--- I also have a sure knowledgeof my ultimate destiny.  Death is anillusion, a devil-trick- it doesn’t exist. Death is simply a birth process to the next glorious part of my lifewith Jesus.  This world is just mytemporary home, my citizenship is in heaven. Getting dead may not be great, but being dead is fine, because we are inheaven with Jesus.
 
Asa Christian, as a saint, not only do I automatically have an abundance ofmeaning in my life, not only do I know who I am and where I’ve come from, andwhere I’m going, not only do I have a sure knowledge of my ultimate destiny-heaven; I am also blessed with clear instructions for how to be blessed (and ablessing) in this life: love God, love neighbor, don’t hold grudges, norevenge, the beatitudes we heard this morning for our Gospel.  So let’s get on with our worship by thankingGod for the wonderful privilege of being saints in our generation and renewingour Baptismal Covenant.
 
 
For anyone who isinterested, this sermon and updated African-American wisdom statements areposted on our parish’s web site under “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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