http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS Thursday, November 14, 2024 27
All Saints’ Day
November 3, 2024
Text: Matthew 5:1-12
In the name of the Father and of the > Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Feast of All Saints is a day when we commemorate those who have gone before us in the Faith,
whose hope was in Christ. We rightly call them “saints.” But do not think that we are remembering
those who lived a holy enough life to earn that title, as if this day is only reserved for those who were
really good. We tend to forget just how sinful even the most cherished of saints really were in this
life. Peter, the leader of the Apostles, denied our Lord three times even though Jesus warned him
beforehand. Paul, the one who spread Christianity over the known world and wrote half the New
Testament, was once Saul, who searched out and executed Christians. Augustine, one of the greatest
theologians of the Church, had once been a member of a cult and had a son out of wedlock.
And yet, we call them “saints” because, very simply, “They have washed their robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:14). The word “saint” just means “holy,” and they
have been made holy in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Their sins, no matter how great, are forgiven.
So when we honor the saints of the Church, we are actually honoring Jesus. He’s the One who turns
poor sinners into saints.
It is, therefore, quite appropriate and in keeping with God’s Word that we commemorate the
saints. But more than that, we need this day in the Church Year. For just as we don’t forget the Apos-
tles, Prophets, and Evangelists, neither do we forget our own fathers and mothers, our siblings and
friends who have fought the good fight and finished the race. We don’t pray to them, of course. We
don’t think they visit us, or watch over us, or communicate with us in any way. But we do look to
their example of faith. We give thanks to God for them and everything our Lord did through their
lives. We rejoice in the fellowship we have with them in Christ. And in that way, we don’t celebrate
All Saints’ Day for their sake, but for ours.
So consider with me the Gospel reading that is always assigned for this day. It’s the beginning of
our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount where He gives us what we call “The Beatitudes.” And in the Beat-
itudes, we hear all of these high and wonderful blessings: “...theirs is the Kingdom of heaven... they
shall be comforted... they shall inherit the earth...” (Matthew 5:3-5), and so forth.
Now, the way this text is so often explained is to say that these are the “Be-Attitudes,” meaning,
you need to be these attitudes. Be this and be that in order to receive the corresponding blessings.
Obviously, there are all sorts of problems with that, thinking we can earn God’s blessings, making
Jesus a lawgiver. But just on a practical level, how can anyone possibly think they can live up to these
Beatitudes? Who fits this list? I guess you and I might qualify as “those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4).
Most of us have had our fair share of grief and sorrow. But what about the others? We haven’t been
all that meek or merciful toward our fellow man, unless they agree with us politically. Hungering
and thirsting for righteousness? Well, we might go to church, but anything beyond that seems just
too much for our schedule. That’s not exactly hungering, is it? I could go on, but what about simply
being “pure in heart”? We’ve never been pure in heart in our lives! In fact, if we want a better pic-
ture of the condition of our heart we should turn just ten chapters from here, where Jesus says, “out
of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander”
(Matthew 15:19). That is a description of our heart and why it is such a joy to sing, “Create in me a
clean heart, O God...” every Sunday.
Do you see? These Beatitudes might sound nice, but if you look at them honestly, they are a pow-
erful description of what you and I are not. When you hear “Blessed are...” and then Jesus describes
a whole bunch of characteristics you do not have, then what are we to do?
Thankfully, our Lord is not saying, "If you are poor in spirit, meek, mourning, and so forth, then
you are blessed.” No. To get to the heart of the Beatitudes, you must look at Who is speaking them. So
here it is: The Beatitudes are first and foremost a description of Christ. Every sermon is about Him,
and this Sermon on the Mount is no different. Jesus is the One who, though He was rich, yet for your
sake became poor, that the Kingdom of Heaven might be yours. Jesus is the One who mourns over
the sins of all men, not wanting any to perish. Jesus is the One truly meek, dependent on the Father,
who by His death redeemed the entire earth. Jesus hungers and thirsts for His righteousness to be
made yours. Jesus is the Merciful One, who is Mercy incarnate. Jesus alone is pure in heart, always
desiring the will of the Father all the way to the point of having that pure heart split by the spear.
Jesus is the Peacemaker, who has accomplished a true and lasting Peace between God and man.
He is reviled and persecuted for the sake of righteousness, that the Kingdom of heaven be yours.The Beatitudes are about Him. And the saints in heaven standing before the throne and before the
Lamb are not there because they fulfilled this list but because their Savior did. He’s always the focus.
However — and we need to be clear on this point — just because the Beatitudes describe Jesus does
not mean they have nothing to do with the saints. After all, this is the reading assigned for All Saints’
Day, right?
If you’ve ever attended a historic Lutheran Church even older than ours, oftentimes they have
elaborate stained-glass windows. Have you seen this before? Not only are their stained-glass win-
dows beautiful and intricate, but usually the window panes that flank the nave show depictions of
the saints. That’s not merely a nice decoration. It doesn’t just teach history. That, dear friends, is how
to rightly think of the saints of the Church. They are stained-glass windows through whom the Light
of Christ shines upon us. Our Lord works through their steadfast faith and their good works, for
our sake.
When the sun lights up a stained-glass window, you don’t think the glass itself is producing its
own brilliance. You know it’s the sun. So also, by the same token, the Beatitudes may describe Jesus
since He is the Light of the world, but we also see that light of Christ shining through the life of the
saints. In the faithful departed, we see that blessed reflection of Jesus Himself because He lives in
them and through them. So we cannot but follow the example of the saints and be encouraged by
their example because it is Christ’s example!
This means that as you struggle through this life under the Cross, you would do well to find com-
fort and strength in the witness of the faithful departed. Like you, they were grave sinners in this life,
but look, their robes have been made white in the blood of the Lamb. They endured the trials of this
fallen world with their confession of faith intact, and now they live among the Church Triumphant.
“Despised and scorned, they sojourned here; But now, how glorious they appear!” They rest from
their labors with Christ’s victory over death in hand, even as you and I struggle on. But make no
mistake, the blessed repose they now have in full is that to which you are headed.
What that also means, however, is that you, too, are one of the window panes in the stained-glass
of Christ’s Church. And in the Beatitudes, you find a description of the life your Lord lives through
you. You are a living reflection of Christ to your neighbor, that God might bless others through you.
That’s why He says, “Blessed are you when you are persecuted, when you suffer for My sake,” because
His Life has become yours.
You share in the fellowship of that great cloud of witnesses, especially as you are gathered at this
altar. For in this place, Christ — the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world — binds you
to Himself, not in some spiritual sense, but in His own Body given for you, in His Blood poured out
for you. Here you join the Church of all time and place. You join with the saints who are on the other
side of the shore. All those who have departed in the Faith and confession of Christ are with Him,
and He is with you here. So rejoice at this rail, for you join their presence.
All of this allows us to come back to the Beatitudes and see them, not as a bunch of rules we need
to follow to earn something, but according to what that word “beatitude” means: “blessing.” So to
those who fall short, who find themselves poor in spirit, your Lord reassures you of the promise that
in Him you’re not poor at all; the Kingdom of heaven is yours. To those of you who mourn in this
vale of tears, Jesus promises you comfort, though not a comfort you’ll fully know in this life. He says,
“[you] shall be comforted” (Matt. 5:4). To those whose strength fails and who find themselves meek,
Jesus promises you will inherit the earth. Not earn it, but receive the gift of inheritance in the new
heaven and new earth. To those who desire righteousness but still struggle with other desires, Jesus
promises you will be satisfied in Him. To those who show mercy, you live in the mercy of Christ
because you receive mercy. To those who long to be pure in heart, you will find that purity in seeing
God at the Resurrection. To those who work to maintain peace rather than personal victory, you
are honored with the Sonship of the Father. And to those who find themselves persecuted in this
fallen world, well, it’s because this world is not yours. You belong to the Kingdom of Christ who was
reviled and persecuted for your sake. And it is He who promises, “Your reward is great in heaven.”
So “rejoice and be glad” (Matthew 5:12).
In > Jesus’ name. Amen.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through Christ
Jesus. Amen.Listen to this and other sermons by the Rev. Anthony Voltattorni, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Marshall, at http://www.zionmarshall.com.
Join us in person for Sunday worship at 9:30 a.m., followed by fellowship time and Bible study.
Battle Creek Shopper News and Ad-visor space paid for by José and Natalie Valle, members of Zion Lutheran Church.