November 1, 2009

All Saints Day

John 11:32-44

Hello Saints! 

            The Gospel of John is often called the Book of Signs as John related seven miracles or signs so that “you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.” Our scripture reading this morning is the last of the seven signs, and it comes after Jesus’ lengthy discourse of “I am the Good Shepherd” and “my sheep know my voice.”  

Read John 11: 32-44 

Hello Saint Allen, Saint Nancy, Saint Dorothy, Saint Gwen, Saint Harold, and all the rest of you saints gathered here for worship this morning. The Bible says that sainthood begins when we are baptized when God’s grace is poured out upon us. A saint is a person who believes and witnesses to their faith. It does not begin when we die but in living as a child of God.  

All Saints Day is not a time for grief, but a time for joy and celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He calls us by name to follow him; he is the good shepherd; we know his voice; and we know the outcome of our journey that God has for us all. We are God’s people in life and in death, for nothing can separate us from the love of God.  

The raising of Lazarus is the last sign of Jesus’ ministry; and neither the lack of faith of Mary and Martha, nor the death of Lazarus can prevent this child of God from hearing God’s call. In the midst of all the grief around him, “Jesus wept” not for Lazarus but for everyone grieving; and then he acted by calling Lazarus by name and out of the tomb. Now Mary and Martha understood that God has swallowed up death forever. We will not remain in the grave but be made whole and live with the faithful saints and the Lamb of God forever.  

But once Lazarus is free of the tomb, one more thing has to happen. Jesus tells them to “Unbind him and let him go.” Jesus calls us and we follow; he raises us from the dead, unbinds us, and sets us free. Death is not final. Who does this work of unbinding in the world today? The church does. The church is in the business of setting people free. You don’t hear this much in church circles today, do you? You hear mostly about binding up and thou shalt nots. That is not the gospel. The gospel is about setting people free of their sins and bondage and living an authentic life as a saint, a child of God. To be a saint is to be part of a community of saints that goes about touching people with God’s love, connecting them to other children of God and with God himself.  

We are not self-made, Lone Ranger Christians who are cut off from others. Jesus came as God’s son so that we would know we live in an intimate relationship with God and are to live the same way with one another. The gospel is about loving relationship. You are not alone. You live in God’s world and are loved by other of God’s children.  You have been saved by God’s love so that you can be an agent of His love to others. We do this as saints right here in this life. 

Hear the good news of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. In life and in death God never let’s go of us. Amen.

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