Who is a Saint?
Matthew 5:1-12
November 5, 2023 anno Domini
It is an old custom on All Saints Day to read the names of those in the congregation who have died since last All Saints Day. Since Redeemer is traditional, we should probably do that. So, here they are.
Andy Hervin
Geraldine Dendinger
Richard Biendara
Ethel Hervin
Henry Heeck
Murial Walters
Sue Anderson
Delores Markfort
It is ironic that we think of those who have died as “sainted,” but we don’t think of ourselves that way. Does death make people saints? If you read obituaries, you would think so. When a final destination of a loved one is given, he is always in heaven, among the angels, wearing his own set of wings. I have never come across an obituary that even slightly hinted that Brian or Bruce burning eternally in hell.
Another irony today is that none of the Scripture readings for All Saints Day uses the word “saint.” However, they do tell us what makes a Saint, who is a Saint, and what the life of a Saint is like.
What makes a Saint? Saint John answers that in Revelation. The God who sits on the throne in heaven and the Lamb at His side makes saints. A generic God, a Food Club or Kirkland God – a cheaper, mass produced god who isn’t quite up to the realities of sins and death won’t get you anywhere. Saints believe in the Almighty God, the Maker of heaven and earth. They believe that He alone as the Creator can and did undo the mess of the world and their lives. Saints believe the Son of God became man, took our sins in His flesh, and then endured our hell, the Father’s anger at the cross. Saints believe in the one, holy, Christian, and Apostolic church where the Holy Spirit works in Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, Holy Word, and Holy Supper to declare and make for God a Holy people. If you that that God and His work in Christ Jesus, you are a saint. Not at some future date, not after you die, not because you are more pious than your pagan neighbors. You are a saint now because you believe the Father sent His Son for you. Jesus makes Saints. Faith in Jesus makes you a Saint.
Saint John makes this clear in both Revelation and his first Epistle when he tells us who the saints are. They are those who have “come out of the great tribulation.” They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Saints are those whom God has brought out of the tribulations of this world. One of the Greek words used for the church is the word ecclesia. We get the word “ecclesiastical” from it. It is the combination of two words “called” and “out.” When you are called a child of God you are called out of the world. You are called out from sin because you’re forgiven. You’re called out from death because you now are living forever. You are called out from hell because the Devil doesn’t rule you. Christ does.
In 1 John we are told that Saints are those loved by the Father and called children of God. God does something else when He calls you out. He calls you His own. That’s what the word “Holy” means. You are “set apart” for God. When you are called out by God in your baptism, God puts His name on you – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He sets you apart. You don’t belong to sin. You belong to Him. You don’t belong to death. You belong to Him. You don’t belong to the Devil. He got exorcised in your baptism, evicted from dwelling in you. Now the Holy Spirit resides in your body and your heart by faith.
What Saint John teaches you in the first two readings should make you happy – you are washed in the blood of the Lamb, loved as the children of God, out from under sin, death, and hell’s tyrant the Devil.
Jesus uses the word “blessed” 9 times in the Gospel reading. Sometimes the word “blessed” is translated “be happy.” But this happiness, this blessedness Jesus preaches is only known by faith, only known by Saints, only known through Jesus.
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Who wants to be poor? Raise them high. But you, O Saint, are poor, because you believe that everything you have is from the riches of God. Not only do you believe that about your possessions and property, but you believe it about your spirit. You were born sinful, and God gave you the riches of His Son’s death and resurrection in your baptism. Every Sunday your God opens heaven’s door to richly bless and forgive you.
Blessed are those who mourn. Who likes being sad? Discouraged? Disgusted by the evil in the world? Why do you mourn? Because you have been taught by your Father the difference between good and evil. You know that death is not what He desires for you or for anyone else. You know that humans weren’t created to be selfish and isolated, but to live in faith toward God and love toward others. You are sad because peace doesn’t come from one side winning and the other side losing. Peace can only come when the Prince of Peace rules in the hearts of people.
Blessed are the meek. Sure they are. Meek armies win the wars. Meek football players win the Super Bowl. Meek CEOs have the hottest businesses on the stock market. You are meek because your King is meek. The Kingdom of heaven has a different economy than the kingdoms of this world. Jesus’ strength was in weakness. He gained victory by suffering defeat. He won the world by sacrificing Himself. He does not coerce you into His Kingdom nor does He force you to stay. He loves you to death and then uses mere water, meager preaching, and a meek meal of bread and wine to give you Himself and His Kingdom.
Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Sign me up, that is exactly the life I want. Reviled, persecuted, and lied about. I’m sure that will make me feel blessed.
Jesus finishes this final beatitude the same way He finished all of them. With a promise. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.Look at the promises of the beatitudes. Some you have now – theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Some are yet to come – they shall be comforted, they shall be satisfied, they shall see God. These blessings don’t come because you are poor in spirit or meek or are persecuted. They come because of Jesus. They come because you believe.
Once Jesus has you and you have Him you don’t fit in. You won’t fit in. You have been called out of sin and the unbelieving world into the Church. You have been set apart from the devil and his wicked ways. You are set apart as God’s own child. You are a saint. To the world that makes you an illegal alien. You don’t follow the local customs. You don’t speak their twisted language. You don’t fit in with the culture of sin and death and perversion. But take heart. Jesus stands with you right now. He is your King, your comfort, your forgiveness. He bested death and beat the Devil. His promises are as sure and certain as His resurrection from the dead. And when He appears the last time, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. Happy All Saints Day you saints. In the name of Jesus. Amen.