All Saints Sunday

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.

One of the things I like to do is to highlight special times in the Christian year. One of those special times for us is All Saints Sunday. All Saints (Nov. 1 or the first Sunday in November) is a day of remembrance for the saints with the New Testament meaning of all Christian people of every time and place. We celebrate the communion of saints as we remember the dead, both of the Church universal and of our local congregations. For this reason the names of persons in the congregation who have died during the past year may be solemnly read as a response to the Word. The point is to proclaim the final victory given to us by faith in Christ. In spite of all of our earthly trials and sufferings, faith overcomes it all. No matter what happens to us, it matters to God, who is making everything new. The lectionary text for this week is from Revelation 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

Those who believe have a heavenly home awaiting them. Jesus comforts us with this word from John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Physical death and this temporary life do not have the last word. Because Jesus rose from the dead, eternal life has now been brought to light and reality. Romans 2:7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

2 Timothy 1:10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

One of the great hymns of the church proclaims so magnificently the final triumph of faithfulness and faith in God through Jesus Christ. God and righteousness triumph. God's Kingdom will come. God's will shall be done. This Sunday we will sing this hymn:

For all the saints, who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia, Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong. Alleluia, Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost: Alleluia, Alleluia!