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”
“I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” Some of you may recognize this quote--it’s not from our Scripture reading. It’s a line from a Billy Joel song that was popular in the 1970’s when I was in high school. Billy Joel, apparently, thought of saints the way most of us in our culture do: people who are excessively virtuous, on the fast-track to heaven, including those formally recognized by the Catholic Church to have performed miracles and led exemplary lives. Saints, in our culture, are not typically thought of as people who get much enjoyment out of life.
I am happy to proclaim that, according to the Bible, that understanding of the word “saint” is much too narrow. The word saint is used 64 times in the Bible--once in the Hebrew Scriptures (Psalm 31) and 63 times in the New Testament--primarily in the Letters attributed to the Apostle Paul as well as the Book of Revelation. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word saint means simply, “child of God,” and in the New Testament, the definition is expanded to include all followers of the God we see revealed in Jesus.
As you may know, the word “saint” comes from the Latin “sanctus,” which means “holy.” And “holy” didn’t originally carry the connotation of “virtuous,” but rather meant someone dedicated to a divine purpose. [repeat]. I know I’m sounding more than a bit like Webster’s Dictionary here, so let me cut to the chase. In case you’re in Billy Joel’s camp and think that being a saint is nothing you want aspire to--that being a saint would be basically dedicating your life to a joyless, holier-than-thou, monastic existence that you would prefer to avoid at all costs, thanks be to God, that’s NOT what being a saint means! Being a saint means dedicating your life to God’s purposes that we see in Jesus. That is, living a life characterized by joyful, abundant welcome; spiritual growth, and loving service that promotes justice for all--to expand a bit on FFC’s purpose statement.
Tomorrow, November 1st, is “All Saints Day” on the Christian calendar. On “All Saints Day,” we remember and honor those whom today’s scripture describe as being part of a “great cloud of witnesses,” that is, people who have gone before us and been an inspiration to our faith. People whose lives have been an example to us as we go through our own struggles. People whose memories and spirits cheer us on, like spectators in a race, whose words and actions point us to Jesus, whose own example of endurance gives us strength when we are weary.
Today, you will hear 4 testimonies from 4 fellow church members of people and actions that illustrate the true meaning of “saint.”
May God bless our hearing of these stories.
Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt
Franklin Federated Church
Franklin, MA
Note: The third to last paragraph uses words from a sermon written and preached by Marlayna on November 5, 2006 and Nov 2, 2014. 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”
“I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” Some of you may recognize this quote--it’s not from our Scripture reading. It’s a line from a Billy Joel song that was popular in the 1970’s when I was in high school. Billy Joel, apparently, thought of saints the way most of us in our culture do: people who are excessively virtuous, on the fast-track to heaven, including those formally recognized by the Catholic Church to have performed miracles and led exemplary lives. Saints, in our culture, are not typically thought of as people who get much enjoyment out of life.
I am happy to proclaim that, according to the Bible, that understanding of the word “saint” is much too narrow. The word saint is used 64 times in the Bible--once in the Hebrew Scriptures (Psalm 31) and 63 times in the New Testament--primarily in the Letters attributed to the Apostle Paul as well as the Book of Revelation. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the word saint means simply, “child of God,” and in the New Testament, the definition is expanded to include all followers of the God we see revealed in Jesus.
As you may know, the word “saint” comes from the Latin “sanctus,” which means “holy.” And “holy” didn’t originally carry the connotation of “virtuous,” but rather meant someone dedicated to a divine purpose. [repeat]. I know I’m sounding more than a bit like Webster’s Dictionary here, so let me cut to the chase. In case you’re in Billy Joel’s camp and think that being a saint is nothing you want aspire to--that being a saint would be basically dedicating your life to a joyless, holier-than-thou, monastic existence that you would prefer to avoid at all costs, thanks be to God, that’s NOT what being a saint means! Being a saint means dedicating your life to God’s purposes that we see in Jesus. That is, living a life characterized by joyful, abundant welcome; spiritual growth, and loving service that promotes justice for all--to expand a bit on FFC’s purpose statement.
Tomorrow, November 1st, is “All Saints Day” on the Christian calendar. On “All Saints Day,” we remember and honor those whom today’s scripture describe as being part of a “great cloud of witnesses,” that is, people who have gone before us and been an inspiration to our faith. People whose lives have been an example to us as we go through our own struggles. People whose memories and spirits cheer us on, like spectators in a race, whose words and actions point us to Jesus, whose own example of endurance gives us strength when we are weary.
Today, you will hear 4 testimonies from 4 fellow church members of people and actions that illustrate the true meaning of “saint.”
May God bless our hearing of these stories.
Rev. Dr. Marlayna Schmidt
Franklin Federated Church
Franklin, MA
Note: The third to last paragraph uses words from a sermon written and preached by Marlayna on November 5, 2006 and Nov 2, 2014.