The Encouragement of All Saints Sunday
Growing up, my heroes ranged from cartoon characters and sports stars to the Saints I learned about in my devout Roman Catholic family. The Lives of the Saints described individuals who lived lives of extraordinary faith and remarkable deeds. As I’ve matured, my perspective of saints has expanded. Saints are no longer in a exclusive category reserved for a few. Now I see saints as flawed human beings, set apart not by perfection, but by their openness to the transformative love of God in Jesus Christ.
On this All Saints Sunday, the message is meant to be one of great encouragement for us, the saints.
- We Are Not Alone: Individual Christians are part of something greater than themselves, transcending time and space through Christ. This shared journey helps us feel both humble and supported, realizing no one congregation or denomination is the be-all and end-all.
- Agents of Divine Power: We, the saints, are chosen by God’s election to be agents of divine power in a struggle. This conviction counters our natural feelings of inadequacy and reminds us of God’s power at work in the church.
- Hope Beyond Circumstance: Our hope is found in looking beyond our immediate circumstances and trusting in Christ. As Jesus tells his disciples in the Gospel, we are blessed in ways the world doesn’t recognize, particularly when we empty ourselves in sacrificial love, following in the pattern of Jesus.
We are reminded that our saving work is in increasingly placing our trust in the power of God already at work in us, grafting us into a kingdom ruled by forgiveness and love. We stand in the glorious, hope-filled company of the saints who have gone before us, those with whom we live, and those yet to come.
Call to Action: Place your trust in God’s power working in you.
Don’t protest that you lack the courage or strength for faithful living. Instead, increasingly place your trust in the power of God already at work in you, following the pattern of Christ and living a life of sacrificial love. Remember, God’s power is at work in the life and witness of the church.
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Watch the full sermon to learn more about how you are being sent.