What’s a Saint? Saints are people who’ve caught the vision of what God’s doing, and who’ve dared to live against the prevailing culture. This weekend, many congregations are celebrating All Saints, a time for honoring those who have believed despite what the Crowd says, and who now rest from their journey. More, it’s a time for encouraging those still living whose sainthood is unfolding daily. These scriptural passages will guide us:
Daniel is a puzzling book, to me. Better suited for Hallowe’en, it tells stories about weird beasts and signs, most of which we find difficult. It’s best seen as an early “gnostic” allegory couched in references better understood when it was written, about 169 years before Christ. The book is an encouragement to those attempting to live rightly in the face of (Roman) adversity. Sunday’s portion, Chapter 7:1-3, 15-18, describes four beastly kingdoms arising from The Deep–Israel is a land-country, remember, and doesn’t trust the Sea or anything within. “BUT the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom and possess the kingdom forever–forever and ever.” (v.18)
Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians is more comfortable to us. Verse 11 of the first chapter reads, “In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will.” As human inheritors of divinity, then, we have membership with the saints whom the author describes in following verses: having wisdom, enlightenment, and a rich knowledge of God’s power in Christ. Again, the Pilgrim is affirmed by knowing that the Heavenly Kingdom eventually is seen to prevail.
Luke’s Gospel is full of counter-cultural material, beginning with Mary even before Jesus’ birth: the mighty are pulled down, and the rich are sent away empty (1:51-53). Later, Jesus is remembered as initiating his ministry with the public reading, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor….” (4:18ff) So there’s no surprise when he admonishes “those who listen” to love enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To go another mile, to give your last shirt, to give to all beggars without analysis, to treat others as you’d like to be treated. (6:27-31) There’s nothing here that says this is optional, only expected! Without ranting –maybe– I hope to deal with “Winning at any Cost” (football), “Nice Guys finish Last” (bullying & intimidation), “Stand Your Ground” (racial profiling and control), and “I Got Mine” (NY State gambling extension).
All Saints liturgy and preaching should “reflect this radical prophetic challenge to holy living that is grounded in the real suffering and struggle of real people, and the ultimate overthrow of all societies and patterns and relationships that depend on the suffering of many to support the few.” (Marjorie Proctor-Smith) May you be so bold!
God Bless Us, Every One H B King
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