Sermon for All Saints' Day: "Church Family Reunion"

+ Festival of All Saints (observed) – November 12^th, 2017 +

Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12

Redeemer Lutheran, HB

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Who are these clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?

John’s vision in Revelation reminds me of our own Schuldheisz family reunion every summer on the Oregon Coast. Who are all these Schuldheisz’s and from where have they come?

At least in our family, reunions are a great time to catch up after months or years apart, eat way too much food, relive old memories and make new ones, and simply spend time together. It’s a little glimpse of the joyful reunion we wait for and long for in the resurrection on the Last Day.

And that’s a good way to think about All Saints’ Day.

Today we remember, and give thanks to God for those who have departed in the faith and now rest from their labors. We remember, and give thanks to God for adopting us as his children in Holy Baptism. We remember, and give thanks to God, whether we’re here on earth, or asleep in Jesus that he calls us all his saints, his holy ones.

Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what you are.

Hearing that, it sounds like All Saints’ Day is a great, big family reunion. Here God gathers his saints in heaven and earth for a feast, not around a buffet table, but at the Lord’s Table; we sing, not silly campfire songs like “The Old Family Toothbrush”, but the all saints’ family chorus: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!”; and we’re clothed – not in matching neon T-shirts – but in glorious robes made white in the blood of the Lamb.

And no family gathering would be complete without a group photo to remember the present, a little reminiscing with aunts and uncles around the photo album to remember the past, and conversation that quickly turns to wondering about the future.

The family reunion around the throne of the Lamb in Revelation 7 is no different. In John’s vision we see two family photos: one of the past and present, and one of the future.

The past and present photograph shows the church militant, the church on earth marked by tribulation, trial, and suffering.

John’s vision reveals that those who belong to God, from the Old Testament down through the New are sealed, chosen, marked as his own. Covered by Jesus’ promise just as you are in Baptism. God’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has been fulfilled. No one is left out of the church family photo-op. Yes, the saints of old faced countless trials, brutal persecution, and gruesome martyrdom…they lived as we do, under the cross. But together with the faithful departed, we are not alone in bearing the cross. For our Lord, the Lamb on the throne, bore the cross first, for us all.

In this world we will have trouble, but fear not, Jesus says, for I have overcome the world. In this world we will suffer, but fear not, Jesus has suffered for you on the cross and suffers with you still. In this world we will have tribulation, but fear not; Jesus has borne all our tribulation, disease, and death in the great tribulation of Good Friday.

Sin and suffering, persecution or pain, death or the devil – they have nothing on you because you belong to Jesus. You are his baptized ones, his holy ones, his saints.  Behold what manner of love the Father has given unto us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what you are.

Suffering and tribulation, disaster and distress may come. But none of that can take away Christ’s promise from you, nor take you away from Christ the crucified and risen one. You are not abandoned. You have hope. A future.

And that’s what the second family photo in John’s vision of Revelation 7 reveals.

After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom,
Thanksgiving and honor and power and might,
Be to our God forever and ever.
Amen.”

John shows us the great family reunion of the church triumphant, the saints surrounding the Lamb on the throne. Though this life is marked by suffering, we are also marked by the one who suffered all things for us. So, John’s vision reveals that we are also marked by Christ, adorned in white robes, made white in the blood of the Lamb.

And once again we’re not alone. The Lamb is at the center, surrounded by the once suffering, now joyful saints before his throne, some of them we know by name and remember today: Chuck, Sandy, and David; and yet a great multitude that no one could number.

“Who are these arrayed in white robes, and from where did they come?”

“These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

So much is summed up in that little word, tribulation.

These are the ones coming out of the ICU, hospice, and the nursing home.

These are the ones coming out of a lifelong battle with cancer, mental illness, or any other number of diseases.

These are the ones coming out of ugly divorces, broken families, and abuse.

These are the ones coming out of still births, miscarriages, and childless homes.

These are the ones coming out of church massacres, school shootings, and terrorist attacks.

These are the ones coming out of suffering, persecution, and beheading all because they bear the name of Jesus.

These are the ones coming out of earthquake, war, famine, and bloodshed.

These are the ones, who, like you, are clothed in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

You see, this is what makes you a saint: not what you think or feel or because you deserve or earned it, but simply by the blood of Jesus shed for you. We’re adopted into God’s family by simple water and word. Jesus feeds and nourishes us, his children, with simple bread and wine that delivers us forgiveness in his body and blood given and shed for you. That same body and blood that was given for us on the cross, the greatest tribulation of all. God the Father gave us his only begotten Son so that in Jesus we might be called children of God. And that is who you are. Jesus declares you to be his saint, his holy one – and not only on All Saints’ Day…but every day.

Even on days of suffering, tragedy, and tribulation. Someday, you too, will come out of this great tribulation. For the Lamb who sits on the throne dwells among you. You shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike you, nor any heat; for the Lamb in the midst of the throne will shepherd you and lead you to living fountains of water. And God will wipe away every tear from your eyes.

A blessed All Saints’ Day to each of you…

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.