Intro to Scripture:
Today’s reading comes from the New Testament Book of Hebrews, a book that reads like a series of sermons ending with a letter. The Book of Hebrews was written at the end of the first century A.D., most likely by someone who worked closely with the Apostle Paul. The book’s main purpose is to encourage church members to persevere through a time of struggle and persecution. Today’s passage uses the metaphor of running a race and being cheered on by those who have gone before. Let us listen for God’s Spirit speaking through these ancient words…
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-3 (NRSV)
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of* the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
Sermon: “Celebrating the Saints”
So, TODAY is November 1st, and Christians all over the world are celebrating a holy day called “All Saints Day.” I thought I would review a little of the history behind this holiday, and then we will explore why it might be especially important for us to celebrate this year.
“All Saints Day” was marked on the Christian Calendar in the 4th century A.D., and it began as a day to celebrate those whom the Catholic Church had officially designated as “saints,” especially those who died as martyrs for their faith.
Protestants—that is, the groups of people who protested against certain church practices and broke away from the Catholic Church during the Reformation in the 16th century— Protestants have a more expansive definition of what the word “saint” means. In the Protestant Church (and, by Protestant, I am referring to denominations such as ours--Baptist and United Church of Christ--as well as others, like Lutherans, Methodists, Presbyterians, AME, Assemblies of God, etc), in the Protestant Church, we do not restrict the word “saint” to refer only to those officially selected and honored by the Catholic and Orthodox churches down through the centuries.
Protestants go back to the Biblical definition and use the word “saint” the way it was used in the New Testament—to refer to anyone who was a follower of Jesus. Or, to put it another way, the word “saint,” as it was used in the New Testament writings of the Apostles, did not refer to people whose behavior was exceptionally holy; it referred to flawed human beings who found access to God, forgiveness and love, through Jesus Christ. So, in the Protestant church, our understanding is that we are all sinners—AND we are all saints.
So, when we Protestants celebrate all Saints Day, our celebration includes more than just the officially designated saints. We give thanks to God for ALL followers of Jesus down through the centuries—BOTH those who have been officially recognized AND those who have quietly lived and died and done their best to love God, neighbor, and self without any recognition. On All Saints Day, we give thanks to God for people whose lives have been an example to us as we go through our own struggles. We give thanks for people whose memories and spirits cheer us on, like spectators in a race, which is the image used in today’s Scripture Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews, chapter 12.
The writer of Hebrews compares life to a race--and not an easy one. We’re talking marathon here, not a “fun run” or a 5K. You can tell that the race is difficult, by the words the author of Hebrews chooses to use to describe it. In verse 1, he talks about “weight and sin that cling so closely”--and one commentator tells us that the Greek words used carry the connotation of encumbrances that “surround, beset, and distract” the runners. Further, the author of Hebrews uses the word “hostility” in verse 3, which is a translation of the Greek word antilogia, and refers specifically to verbal opposition and abuse. And twice, the writer speaks of “endurance”--and reminds the people of the pain Jesus went through--not to make the people feel bad--but to remind them they are not alone in their pain. (New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. XII, p. 150.)
Do any of you ever feel like that--surrounded, beset, and distracted by encumbrances that feel like a heavy weight? Do you ever feel weary and worn out and alone in your pain? (I won’t ask for a show of hands--or you to click on an expressive emoji.) But it has been such a tough year, hasn’t it?!--and it’s not over yet!
· The pandemic is dragging on so much longer than any of us initially thought;
· We are grieving the people we have lost to Covid and other illnesses;
· We are tired of the isolation;
· We are disturbed by racism and injustice and unrest;
· We are worried about the election, and we are worried about our finances.
· And if all that isn’t bad enough, now winter is coming, and as of tonight, it will be getting dark at 4:30 in the afternoon!
It is all very, very hard!!
But we are NOT alone. Today’s Scripture proclaims that Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured and triumphed over death, and his spiritual presence is here with us--with everyone who opens their hearts to God’s Love, and his presence gives strength to the weary. We know what that’s like; we’ve all felt that strength, haven’t we?!
So “Let us run [this race] with perseverance,” the writer of Hebrews coaches his people--and to encourage them further, he paints a beautiful picture of a “great cloud of witnesses”--spectators who are on the sidelines cheering the runners on. But the “great cloud of witnesses” is not just a group of spectators. They are people who were runners once themselves and have already finished the race. They are people--saints-- who have lived through the ups and downs of life, who have persevered through the struggles themselves, whose faith and hope serve as an example to those of us who are currently struggling. These witnesses--these saints-- call out to us in words and deeds:
· Keep going!
· Don’t give up! There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
· Joy awaits you--and can be with you now!
· It’s worth the struggle!
· You can do it!
· God is with you! We’re with you!
And this is why we celebrate “All Saints” Day. To recognize the people who have gone before us and run the race of life. To celebrate that their spirits are now joyfully held in God’s everlasting arms. To continue to allow their memory and their love and their legacy to inspire our lives today, that we “may not grow weary and lose heart.”
So, in just a moment, I will read through the list of saints--those whose names came in by email, and those whose names you have typed into the comment section of this livestream. If you came late into this livestream and missed the announcements, please feel free to type in the name--or names-- of a “saint” you want to remember (someone who has passed, particularly in the last year), and as I read each name, Alan will light a candle symbolizing that their spirits live on and their love continues to light our paths.
And, if you are watching this livestream at a later date, feel free to call out the name of your saint and light a candle at home to honor their memory.
Let us thank God and celebrate the saints…
I will begin by reading a few names that came in by email:
· Donald Dauley
· Dorothy Dauley
· Phyllis Dempsey
· Ruth Chism
· Marcia Crooks
Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt
Franklin Federated Church
Franklin, MA
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Note: information for this sermon was gathered from the following internet sources:
1) www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/default.asp?id=1187;
2) wikipedia.org/wiki/all_saints
3) New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary, Vol. XII, p. 150
Note: A version of this sermon was first written and preached by Marlayna in Annisquam Village Church, Gloucester, MA on November 5, 2006; and another version on nov 2, 2014 in Winchester, MA; and another version on October 30, 2016 in Manchester, NH.