11-01-23

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
November 1, 2023
Though we as a church will be celebrating All Saints’ Day this coming Sunday, technically today is All Saints' Day... the first day of November. A few months ago, as I was pondering my sermon for this Sunday, I was doing some research on how different traditions have understood and celebrated this special day in the life of the church. There were two websites that were, at least initially, a bit perplexing to me, specifically some of the scriptural passages that were used. The strangest recommended scripture for All Saints’ Day was, “You shall not permit a female sorcerer to live” (Exodus 22:18). To be honest, I’m not even too sure what to do with that reference. And to confess, I let a number of female and male sorcerers live last night. In fact, I thought some of them were rather cute. Many of the other scriptures were lists of sins and unrighteous behavior, and so I began to determine that both websites were defining a Saint by what a Saint did NOT do, yet at no point was there a single passage that portrayed what a Saint might actually do. In today’s world, I believe people have become exceptionally good at explaining what they oppose without a very good sense of what they believe or favor. I have left many conversations knowing who the person hates, but not having a clue who they support or admire, and why. And what I find interesting is how the Saints throughout Christian history are remembered, at least if my memory serves me correctly, by their acts of compassion, kindness, self-giving love, and even unimaginable sacrifice. It was what they did that caught the attention of the world, not what they were able to refrain from doing.

Lord God, I know what many of the Saints sacrificed, and I do not believe I am quite ready to do exactly what many of them did, but I hope the world around me knows me by what I value because the way I choose to live my life clearly portrays those values. In faith, I believe you will help me in this endeavor. Amen.