Sermon
November 6, 2016
All Saints' Sunday
First, let me say it is good to be
here. After some 3500 miles and living out of suitcases in hotels,
spare rooms, and basements, it is good to be here. The office is
unpacked but still disorganized. The house is mostly unpacked,
mostly organized, but still feeling empty. And it is good to be
here.
It is good to be here with you as we
finally begin the next chapter of our respective journeys in this
faith we call Christianity, being part of a particular expression we
call Anglicanism, in the specific life of this place we call St.
John's. This coming together of priest and people has been a long
time coming; but come it did, and it is good to be here. And it is
especially good that we begin our journey together on this day, the
day we celebrate the Feast of All Saints.
On this day we remember those people
whose life, labor, and witness to the world exemplified what it means
to be the Church. We remember those people who sacrificed much, some
to the point of physical torture and death, to proclaim the Good News
of Christ. Today we remember people like Peter, Paul, Bartholomew,
Polycarp, Justin, Ignatius, Athanasius, Augustine, Benedict, Brigid,
Catherine, Clare, Constance, Perpetua, Stephen, Theresa, and so many
others I can't name. Some were persecuted, some were martyred, some
did great things for the life of the Church, and all of them were
faithful to the calling of Christ.
On this day we also remember those who
have entered into glory before us. We remember those who were read
at the beginning of the service today. I remember people like Bobby,
George, Sheila, Frank, Paul, and Lucille. And we remember that for
them, and eventually for us, life is changed, not ended.
But today isn't only about remembering
those saints and souls who have gone before. It's also about
remembering and commemorating those people who by their faithful and
godly living are examples to us. I remember people like Frank, Jeff,
Tripp, Polly, Janis, Joan, Dan, Joani, and so many others who I look
up to and admire. Their faith in Christ, and their life in the
church, is an inspiration to many people and are lives I hope to
emulate.
All Saints' Day is the day we remember
and give thanks for all of this. We remember and give thanks for
those in ages past, in our past, in our present, and in the
yet-to-come. Our Eucharist and liturgy reflect this every Sunday,
but today it is more appropriate and more special. Today when we
join our voices with angels, archangels, patriarchs, prophets,
apostles, martyrs, and with all the company of heaven, our worship is
that much more significant. It is good to be here on such a day as
this.
And on top of all that, on top of
remembering and commemorating the saints and souls of the past, on
top of paying tribute to those people who are inspirations to us by
their faithful and godly living, this day is also about us. This day
is about us because each one of us is an example of faithful and
godly living to someone else.
That thought, or realization, that we
are all saintly examples to someone, might prompt a question – What
can we do to ensure that we continue to be examples of faithful
living? Is there some kind of guidebook that can help ensure we live
lives worthy of being called “saint?” Or, if not actually saint,
at least a faithful follower of Christ? Well, as a matter of fact .
. .
In a few moments we will participate in
the renewal of baptismal vows. In that portion of the service you
will be asked if you believe in God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Following those three questions you will be asked a series of other
questions laying out what it means to live a faithful and godly life
dedicated to Christ. These are not a series of suggestions. These
are not a series of statements based on how you feel at the time.
This is the outline of how we are to live as Christian people every
day of our lives.
Will you attend worship services
regularly?
Will you resist evil, repent and make
restitution when you sin?
Will you evangelize?
Will you see the face of Christ in all
people?
Will you respect the dignity of every
human being?
These are hard things to do. They are
so hard, in fact, that I believe we need to be reminded on a regular
basis of just what it was that we promised at out baptism. Being a
Christian is hard work; and if we are doing it right, it's the most
counter-cultural thing we can do.
When we renew our baptismal vows here
in a few minutes, notice something very important – you are not
alone. Yours is not the only voice speaking. So not only are you
not alone, but you are also being supported by many other faithful
and godly people doing their best to live out their lives in
fulfillment of the gospel.
Today we celebrate the Feast of All
Saints. Today we remember and commemorate those heroes and saints of
old, many of whom gave their lives for the faith. Today we also
remember and commemorate all the faithful departed who lived faithful
and godly lives, some who are known to us and many more known only to
God. Today we renew our vows and take our place alongside those holy
men and holy women, promising to be the face, voice, and light of
Christ to our world.
Today is All Saints. Today we begin
our journey together as priest and people. Today we are reminded
what it means to live as Christians in this world. Today we revel in
the knowledge that we surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses and
are part of the whole host of heaven.
Today we remember that it is good to be
here.
Amen.
4 comments:
Glad you survived your move!
Is the baptism vow renewal thing a, well, a thing? I like the idea.
No, it's not a new thing. If you look on pg. 312 of the BCP, the rubrics state that "Holy Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints' Day or the Sunday after All Saints' Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany)."
And then, a few paragraphs down, it says, "If on the four days listed above there are no candidates for Baptism, the Renewal of Baptismal Vows, pages 292, may take the place of the Nicene Creed at the Eucharist."
So, four times a year (five if a Bishop shows up), I do this with my congregation.
And that's one of the great things about being an Episcopalian . . . I don't have to invent anything; I just follow the BCP.
That is really cool! (Yeah, I figured it wasn't new. I just hadn't ever encountered it before. You know, in my vast 12-13 month experience as an Episcopalian. haha!) We should do this at my church...
Yes . . . yes, you should.
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