All Saints Sunday

John 11:1-53

Life, Death

in the span of things

they are all part of the one

all part of who we are

Life limited to the here and now

Death, beyond that

and loved still

by a God who loves on this side of the grave

and beyond

Come Out Lazarus

Come out that the world may see

not so much one risen

but the one for whom

rising and living and dying

are all part of love

May the love of Christ

be with you now and forever more

Amen!

St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles

John 14:21-27

In my striving

To be the child of God I am called to be

I am short of the call

Short of the wonder waiting there for me

Short of the glory you have given me

And yet

In all I fail to do

I am yours

Your child

Through what you have done

Through your claiming of me

And in that

I am free

Free to be your child

(Peace I leave with you)

To grow and do what you have called me

To be and do

Your child

(My peace I give you)

In the hard times

When ease calls us

To live

Be

Do

The beckoning of the inner

Child

Self

And yet I know Your peace

(do not let your hearts be troubled)

And can live for no other

step toward sainthood

Sunday November 1st, Isaiah 25: 6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine- the best of meats and the finest of wines. In God's world, there is no lack. In our world, there is lack in the midst of plenty. Over 45000 people die each year because of the lack of health care and we can't get a public option because that would mean less money for some who already have too much. You would think that in the whole history of humanity we would "get it." One would think that following the teachings of Jesus, Christians would "get it." I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said "When Jesus said to love your enemies and pray for them, I don't think he meant to kill them." The irony is that in so many ways we don't get it, or choose not to get it. You would think that with this vision of God's hope for the world, we would "get it" and get on board. Some do "get it" and we call them saints. They are the ones who take salvation by grace and respond as grown-ups, and show grace in return. The rest are moving further and further from the vision of God's reality and anyone who dares to preach it or teach it is accused of class warfare or politicizing religion. Awareness of the class warfare that is already going on is the first step in getting on board with God's vision for all of humanity. It is a step toward becoming a saint to someone in this world.

wipe away

Monday November 2nd, Isaiah 25: 8 The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. The tears will be wiped from all faces, not just our faces, not just the faces of those who agree with us, not just from the faces of those who look like us, not just from the faces of those who worship like us, but all faces. What does that say for our culture that wants to paint “others” as evil, or is so willing to go to war and kill to get what they want? The so called evil ones, and the war dead, theirs and ours, are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Those without health care are your brothers and sisters. Those whose jobs have been sent overseas are your brothers and sisters. We are called to be part of the process of wiping away their tears, anything less is causing them.

god in the wallet

Tuesday November 3rd, Isaiah 25: 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this is our God; We trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation." In whom do you trust this day? The one you trust is your God. What do you trust, what issues do you fight for, they are your gods. God calls us to love one another, that is a very broad definition. Loving one another is not just about nice feelings, it is a verb. Do you support some kind of universal health care for your brothers, or does the god in your wallet not let you.