Matthew 5:1-12
By
The Rev. William E. Exner, Rector
St. Matthew's Church
Goffstown, NH
November 4, 2001
Let’s start off this meditation for ALL SAINTS DAY with the rough and
challenging stuff and work our way straight ahead to the Good News of the
Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection and the life ever
lasting.
It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the reason we uphold the
witness and examples of people we have come to call SAINTS of God is,
sadly, because they stick out from, they rise above the many who will never be
mistaken for saintly souls - who will not ever be mistaken for the good they
have done or the love they have shared. Quite the contrary, the SAINTS
STICK OUT AND SHINE “above” the crowds in history because in Jesus’ day
and certainly throughout the centuries to our time, there are still people who
mistreat children, there are terrorists who mail anthrax, there are Hitler’s,
Milsovitchs, Bin Ladens, holocaust, ethnic cleansings and Jihads. There
have been crucifixions in
Briefly now, and I mean briefly, I ask you to picture the person or people who
in your life symbolize the opposite of saintliness. I don’t know
about you, but when I picture that image I am aware of the powerful emotions of
anger and sadness and betrayal, confusion and rage and revulsion these images
conjure up in me. And I realize 2 important things. (1) I cannot allow the
“Unsaintly” to have any more negative power over me. I need to find
peace. And (2) I need to turn the spiritual channel, change my inward
focus, center my heart and soul on the Holy One who can show a better way
and plant the seeds of inward wholeness and peace while washing away the pain to
HELP SHOW
And that’s where the SAINTS OF GOD COME IN AND SAVE THE DAY! Let them
be your focus, let God be your center. THIS IS AFTER ALL, ALL SAINTS DAY.
I love the celebration of ALL SAINTS because it upholds those blessed souls who
throughout our checkered human history did not give in to the violence of
the world or the violence churning in their gut. They did not turn into
mean people or cynical souls but found the grace to keep, and in many cases
discover the faith. With God’s help they became part of the answer, not
more of the problem.
Now contrary to some prevalent notions in a few pockets of Christendom, the
saints are not superhuman - not Christian saints anyway – they are not
superhuman. Rather the Saints are people of each generation who at
important junctions in their lives invited THE POWER OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT,
WHICH WAS GIVEN THEM AT BAPTISM, TO INFORM AND REFORM THEIR LIVES.
If you want to know of people whose lives are informed and reformed by God’s
spirit, if you want to see a saint, then just forget the “Unsaintly
examples” and dial in on those through whom you have felt real
love in your life. Those are God’s Saints. Real love. - You know
it when you feel it. - I hope you’ve met one or two saints, the ones who see
in you the good that others don’t. The ones who didn’t judge
and criticize and make you feel deficient but who MIRACULOUSLY you felt
OK with - you felt appreciated by, you yourself felt inspired and encouraged by.
PICTURE THEM – THOSE SHINING STARS – THOSE WALKING, TALKING GIFTS OF
GOD….How they helped you feel more complete, valuable, worthwhile, whole, like
nothing was missing – like things can work out - like life is connected, and
meaningful, and, yes, good. THAT’S THE POWER OF GOD’S SPIRIT at work
in the saints. It can work in you too.
It changed
These
are the big name Saints in our Christian family album of saints my friends.
This is what we’re made of, this is who you are related to in God.
It’s in your blood through holy wine and the water of baptism if you will
claim your kinship, your inheritance in the family of God Almighty.
“I
have found you, and blessed are you,” Jesus said to all who heard his voice.
“I have found you…” And you know when you think of the big time
saints and the saints in your life whose care, courage or kindness has touched
your soul, then you realize it is true “Christ has found us” and we have
been blessed. No matter what shape or condition we find ourselves,
the Sermon on the Mount tells us, “blessed are you…”This ALL SAINTS DAY
let the grace of this occasion and the witness of all the saints – YOUR HOLY
FAMILY - Not only inform and reform, but transform you for the Good
starting right now. For the world needs all the saints God can muster. And,
finally this late Fall morning as one cute e-mail I got this week said: “in a
way with God’s present help we can be changed like pumpkins turned into
lively, jack-o-lanterns – For God removes the yucky cold stuff inside, the
seeds of doubt and fear, greed and hate and hurt, and then God fashions us a new
face and puts a fresh light within us for all the world to see…” First to
enlighten, then to shine.
So today friend, take your place among the saints, those with you now and those
who have gone- to their reward. Trust in God. Touch others with your
loving kindness. Be informed, reformed and like all the saints be
transformed by the power of God’s Spirit – today and tomorrow.
Amen.