When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:1-11
The feast of All Saints is a celebration of Christian community...a remembrance of all the faithful who have gone before us and well as a time to lift up our life now together as a community of believers.
On this day, we hear again, the beatitudes--the teachings of Jesus on the mount of how we are to live as God’s people on earth...and what kind of a life and attitude will bring blessing.
Today I hold up one of the blessings - “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4)
Traditionally we remember on this day, those we have known and loved who have died in the past year. And thinking of them again, may bring fresh mourning, but that really is not what this day is about. Even as we remember those we have had to say goodbye to, the idea is not to mourn their parting again. This is a day of celebration and thanksgiving for their lives, a day to rejoice because we know they join the saints of all times and places, and to proclaim our hope and confidence, that we too will join them someday.
No, we do not mourn the saints today. What do we mourn?
Jesus, in his sermon, was referring to those who mourn the sins of Israel. He is speaking to those who long to see the people of God live the way God intended and who grieve deeply when God’s people turn away from their God.
Saints, mourn the state of our world. How can we not grieve when we see how far the world has fallen from the goodness and beauty and justice God intended us to live in?
Saints mourn that the will of God is often frustrated and obscured in this world. Saints mourn that people turn their back on God.
Saints mourn that humans hurt one another.
It is God’s will that there be goodness and justice in the world. But human beings have the free will to either follow God’s will or to thwart God’s will. Evil is not God’s will. Evil occurs when people turn their back on God’s will. When that occurs saints grieve. Saints grieve evil in the world. And in their grief, in our grief, we are blessed.
Jesus mourned and grieved. As that strong young man arrived in Jerusalem and looked around, he mourned:
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Matthew 23:37)
Then, instead of turning and walking away, he went on the city to do what only he could do - he took his sins upon his shoulders and went willingly to the cross. His mourning for the world led him to the cross.
All Saints Day was first celebrated to remember all the martyrs—saints who were killed for their faith. Saints whose mourning for the world led them to sacrifice their lives. Blessed are those who mourn.
God promises comfort to those who mourn. For those of us who mourn our own failure to be the people God created us to be, God comforts and heals our grief with forgiveness renewal. When we mourn the evil, greed, injustice and cruelty to this world, God comforts us with hope. There is a better way, a better life, a better world.
Christians grieve, but we do not grieve as those without hope. We have the promise of the saints, known and unknown, famous and loved one, waiting for us in a better world. A city that does not need the sun or mood to shine for God gives it light. A City where there is no night, no hunger, no grief, no tears.
But today we have God’s comfort and hope even before we reach that better world. There is a better way and a better life for us right now. We have the example of the saints before us to encourage and strengthen us in that better life.
According to Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
Blessed are those who mourn. But this is not a day for mourning. This is a day to celebrate all the saints who have mourned the empty promises of this world in favor of the promise of God.
By following Christ they turned the world upside-down. Their achieve aim was not to live a long life, but a faithful life. We celebrate them, all of them, the great ones we’ve heard about, the simple faithful witness of loved ones, parents and grandparents, as well as the untold unknown numbers, not because they were reach or powerful or famous but because they blazed the trail for us. They are alive in Christ and they continue to be interested in our welfare.
This day is a celebration of what our ancestors have meant to us, how their lives have enriched ours and how our communion with one another in Christ reaches even beyond the grave.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Amen.
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