Our Gospel text for this evening ended with an “extraordinary description” of a “Christ-like-life…”
In a nutshell…this is “how” we are supposed to choose to live our lives…[if] we dare to bear the name “Christian.”
This may not be “how” the “rich and famous” aspire to live – but it is to be “the way” in which we are to live.
Don’t worry about “others” – worry about the way in which you live your life!
This may not be “the way” that national politicians live their lives – but it should be our way…
It may not even be “the way” of life that we “envision for ourselves” – but it is a “Christ-like life.”
It is also the life that Jesus has called us to live.
It is a choice!
It is the life of one who has been forgiven, redeemed and washed clean by the blood of the Lamb. It is the life of a person who is deeply grateful to their God. It has also been said – to be the exemplary life of “a saint.” It is a choice!
So these words are held up next to us like some kind of a yardstick…that we are to measure ourselves by…
Do we love our enemies?
Do we love all of our enemies?
Do we love those who hate us?
Do we bless those who curse us?
Do we pray for those who abuse us?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
Would you give someone the shirt off your back?
Do you give regularly to everyone who begs? To everyone?
[If] someone takes away your stuff – do you demand it back?
So you are telling me you always treat others the way you (yourself) want to be treated!
There are no exceptions? None?
As I shared this list – were you already looking for loopholes and/or making excuses for yourself?
And of course, you remember that all of this comes by way – of the Gospel writer, Luke.
This is Luke’s version of Matthew’s Beatitudes, and the Sermon on the Mount. Luke’s is obviously –the lesser known and the lesser quoted. Matthew reigns supreme.
All of this comes our way in time for our celebration of the “blessed saints in light.”
The saints are those who are profoundly loved by God and who respond with lives that love, bless, pray and end up giving of themselves…to others…
It is a choice!
The world is filled with living saints and always has been. They are those who choose to do God’s will. They are those who choose to live in specific ways. They are the ones who choose to make a difference in this life.
When we talk about “All Saints” – we are reminding ourselves of the fragility of life…the fragility of our own bodies…
We think of the ups and the downs of relationships…
Words said…actions recalled…
We remember that love and money can sustain life, but it cannot prevent death.
We may find ourselves thinking about how we fit into the bigger picture…
And ultimately, All Saints celebrations force us to ask “what we really believe” about what happens when we take our last breath…
Other questions also arise:
Have we done enough?
Have we done the right things?
Are we on the right path?
What can we change?
How much time do we have left?
What choices do we need to make?
In what direction am I headed?
Have we loved enough?
Have we done too little?
Do we care enough about others…
Do we share?
Do we reach out?
And the other reminder coming our way on All Saints celebrations is that we still have time…
Right now, today, we still have time…presently, time is on our side.
We can change direction…
We can make new choices…
We can do better…
We can become the people that we are called to be…
In closing I want to share with you the absolution from Saturday nights… “The Almighty and merciful God has promised the forgiveness of sins to those who repent and turn to him. May he move you to greater repentance with his Holy Spirit and cleanse you from all sin…and lead you to still greater faith in him and in his Son. And one day, may you join all his blessed saints in light. In the name of the Father (+) Son (+) and Holy Spirit (+). Amen.