A sermon for All Saints Sunday, November 5, 2023
Trinity Episcopal Church of Morrisania, Bronx, New York
Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints. That word saint, it means “holy” – people made holy by God. It does not mean somebody who is so pious that they never miss a chance to pray. It does not mean somebody doing amazingly good things every day of their life. Those things may be meritorious in their own right, but it doesn’t make someone a saint. Saints are people held in God’s hand, manifesting God’s love, praising God in the way they live their lives. As I look out at you this morning, that’s who I see: God’s holy people. God’s saints.
But it is not just those who are here. Here’s what our lesson says:
After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hand.
Revelation 7:9
More than anyone could count—from every nation, all tribes, and peoples, and languages. The company of the saints is much broader and deeper than any of us can imagine. But it’s not just a vague handwave at everything—it’s not just that every conceivable person is a saint no matter what. Here’s how those in the multitude are described in our lesson:
These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Revelation 7:14
At Trinity Church, we know what it is like to go through an ordeal. When COVID struck and we had to stop meeting in person, I became very aware of the saints reaching out to check on whether people were okay—I would get calls telling me when someone wasn’t, when they needed prayers or assistance. The first Sunday—nine years ago—when I first came here, was the day after Father Allen Newman died. The loss of this gentle priest who had spent several years caring for this congregation was an ordeal. There was another saint, who I never met, Keith Warren, who was so generous with his time and energy for this congregation and all of the Bronx. The Sunday after his funeral, I walked Sheila Hinds home. She was very distraught at losing Keith who had always been kind and supportive to her when she felt she had no one to turn to. As we talked, she recited the entirety of Psalm 121 from memory: “I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help?” It is an ordeal to lose people we love, especially when we remember their holiness and kindness. But our lesson from Revelation is getting at something more.
Those white robed multitudes are witnesses to the truth—the truth of God’s compassion, healing, and deliverance of the poor and the oppressed. And the powers of the world, the powers of oppression and servants of Mammon don’t want that; it exposes and challenges them. Thus, the ordeal that God’s saints experience. While sometimes it’s the whole nine yards of classic martyrdom, other times it’s gaslighting and disrespect, doling out blame rather than help. But the saints, then and now, rejoice in the opportunity to serve and worship God. We reach out as best we can to people of every language and nation, we rejoice with children and baptize them into the healing power of Christ, we love one another and believe in the healing power and protection of God.
When I look at the great saints—people like Francis of Assisi or Desmond Tutu—I see joy. No matter how serious the problems they were embroiled in, how fiercely attacked, they rejoiced in the goodness of God and the beauty of God’s people. I met Desmond Tutu a few times, and he clearly rejoiced in being in the company of the saints—especially those who are not renowned, not noticed—just the regular people of God we all meet each day. God’s holy people are made holy by being blessed by God’s mercy and by dwelling with others who have been likewise blessed. Rejoice in God’s love, one another with all the Saints.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Amen.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Amen.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Amen.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
Amen.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Amen.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Amen.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Amen.
Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Amen.
Matthew 5:3-12
Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt his Name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me out of all my terror.
Look upon him and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my troubles.
The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, and he will deliver them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who trust in him!
Fear the Lord, you that are his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.
Psalm 34:3-9
Observations 