Ordinary Time Week 23/ All Saints Day

Psalm: Psalm 24

Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9

or Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9

Gospel: John 11:32-44

Epistle: Revelation 21:1-6a

Today is All Saints’ Day, the day after Halloween. This is why Halloween is also called All Hallows Eve. All Saints' Day is a day in the Church when we celebrate those in the Church who have died. There are different views and ways to celebrate this holiday and the corresponding All Souls’ Day, which is celebrated on November 2nd. In the Catholic Church, All Saints’ Day celebrates those who have been beatified by the church officially as Saints. All Souls’ Day is when all Christians who have died are celebrated. However, from a more Protestant perspective, where Saints are not emphasized and we believe in the sainthood of all believers, both days have become a celebration of all Christians who have passed away. We don’t want to sentimentalize those who have gone before us and we don’t have to go as far Catholics do in praying to the dead or prayers to the “Saints,” but much like we do in the USA to celebrate those who have died in military service on Memorial Day, it is appropriate and useful for us to remember, celebrate and learn from those who have walked before us in the Church.

There have been 2,000 years of Christian history and untold years of God revealing himself to humanity, specifically to the Jewish people. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, as the saying goes, every generation. In fact, if we ignore Church history, we are doomed to fight the same fight our forebears did and make the same mistakes. We no longer have to debate the primary doctrines of the Trinity or the deity and humanity of Christ. On a micro-level it is also important to remember those in our families, communities and countries who have lived faithful lives to Christ who we can look to in gratitude and for inspiration and insight.

I don’t think there is much debate on these basic points, but the issue comes in the fact that we don’t want to take the time to learn about and remember those who have come before us. And even when the Church has specifically set in place a day and season of remembrance, my tradition has rejected it because it is too “Catholic.” The problem is, however, that another means hasn't really been put in its place to replace All Saints’ Day. I think we can leave this point aside now, but I will provide a link (HERE) of an example of an All Saints' Day service and a brief explanation of the day from a Nazarene source.

Briefly, I want to discuss the reading from the Gospel. John 11 is the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. We are probably all familiar with the story. Jesus heard that Lazarus, the “one whom he loved,” was sick and dying. But rather than hurrying to heal him, he stayed 2 more days where he was and showed up 4 four days after Lazarus had been in the tomb. The interesting thing is that Jesus seemed to know even from the moment he heard that Lazarus was sick, that it was “for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” He seemed to know Lazarus would die and that the Father would raise him from the dead.

What makes this little detail interesting is that in our specific verses today, Jesus is described vividly being moved by the death of his friend. John writes that Jesus, was “deeply moved in spirit and was troubled.” (vs. 33) Jesus wept, in the shortest verse of the Bible, verse 35. And finally, he was again deeply moved within when he arrived at the tomb. (38) Jesus went from being nonchalant and delaying coming to Lazarus, to being deeply grieved once he arrived. It is difficult to try and understand someone’s emotional state and inner conversation, but something seemed to change in Jesus.

If we presume John the Apostle wrote the Gospel, then both of these images of Jesus stuck out as he sat down to write. The image of Jesus both serving the Father and seeking to glorify him, and also of Jesus, the man feeling sorrow and compassion. There is a lot we can learn in a narrative like this about who Jesus was and is.

Two last points I want to make since story this is All Saints' Day. The first is that God is Lord even of death. We would do well to remember this on All Saints' Day. Death doesn’t have the final say, God does. Second, the fact of the matter is that at some point Lazarus still died. At some point, Mary or Martha or someone close to Lazarus experienced the sorrow of his passing. All Saints' Day becomes the day in the Church Calendar to specifically remember and celebrate those like Lazarus who have died. But always we do this with the knowledge of point one: death doesn’t have the final say. Our hope is in the resurrection and life everlasting.

So, today specifically, let us remember those saints in our families, our communities, and in the Church universal who have passed away. Let us remember and celebrate them and take inspiration at the lives they lived. Finally, let us look forward to the hope of the resurrection and Christ’s return when even death will be defeated!

Grace and Peace.