Three years…
Where did the time go?
Unreal isn’t it?
You guys were so young…7th graders…and all!!!!
And look at you NOW…young men and women!!!!
Thank you parents, seriously, for all the chasing back and forth. Thank you for your time commitment. It is greatly appreciated. You guys, rock! Seriously! Thank you!!!!
Let’s see…there was…
Time spent on the Hebrew and Early Christian Writings…
Time spent studying what has been called “pre-history”…
Time spent studying the laws and the prophets and the wisdom writings…
Time spent studying the gospels and the letters of Paul and the historical writings…
We have spent time together…we have “wrestled with the scriptures and have survived…” c’mon now – it was not that bad…nor was it that hard…
And, in the course of time, we managed to learn a thing or two along the way…
For the record, you have touched just the tip of the iceberg, there is “so much more to learn”…so much more to “study”…so much more to “know”…
But it is enough for now…it is “enough”…
Just know that there is always more awaiting you…when and if, you are ready…
Today, we as a church, as a group of believers, as the faithful in this place, celebrate “All Saints Sunday…”
It is a major liturgical day for us…
We remember and name by name all those who have died within the past year from our parish ministry.
But the “saints” constitute a lot more than just the dearly departed…
The group of saints is bigger than that!
And of course, it depends on WHO you read, WHO you listen to, and WHO you study…and as usual, the scholars are divided.
A good argument has been made in the scriptures themselves, that the “blessed saints” included a whole lot more than the recently deceased.
It would seem at various places and at various times, the newly baptized were included in the number of “the saints.”
At various places anyone who dared to “name the name of Christ” was considered to be “a saint.”
The word “saint,” actually means…a person who is recognized as having an “exceptional degree of holiness” or a “likeness or closeness to God.”
The word that is sometimes used is “hallowed” or “Sanctus” usually defined as being, “the holy ones.”
Saints are “honored,” “special and holy” or “set apart.”
Dudes and “dude-ttes,” guess what? Once more, today we are setting YOU apart!
It happened at your baptisms and it is happening again!!!!
YOU, seriously, really, you are being set apart for all time. You are being incorporated into the saints of our God…again…
It is an ancient liturgy, with ancient actions…including the “laying on of hands” which goes all the way back to Jesus and his disciples.
We are setting you apart.
We are declaring you, Sanctus…
We are setting you apart as holy ones…
In the Lutheran Church, all Christians, whether in heaven or on earth, are often times regarded as “saints.”
Guess what, guys? That includes YOU!
However, (just so you know) the church still recognizes and honors “specific saints,” including some of those recognized by the Roman Catholic Church, but in a qualified way: according to the Augsburg Confession the term “saint” is used in the manner of the Catholic Church only insofar as to denote a person who received “exceptional grace,” was “sustained by faith,” and whose “good works” are to be “an example” to any Christian.
Saints “put it out there,” and they show “the rest of us, how to live…”
Lutherans also believe that “the saints” pray for the Church, in general.
So always remember the church – in your prayers…you saints of his…
The Lutheran Churches also have “liturgical calendars” in which they honor “individuals as saints.”
So we have this history of honoring the saints, both those in heaven and those on earth.
Today is your day. Today you are being honored and set apart. Today, we are saying publicly, again, that YOU belong to him.
May you be aware of your sainthood and live up to it…for you truly belong to HIM.
Thanks guys for all touching my heart and my ministry. As I have told you before, “I love you” and I really truly mean that!
Imagine, YOU A SAINT!!!!! And in my eyes, you always will be.
Amen.