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"The Reign of Truth"

11/27/2018

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Rev. 1:4-8; John 18: 33-37

 
Despite all the wonderful experiences of this past week, delicious food, visits with loved ones and fellowshipping, enjoying the holiday lights and sales, Thanksgiving was marred. It was marred when Sandra Parks, age 13, was shot and killed in her own bedroom.  Two years ago, Sandra wrote an award-winning essay, entitle Our Truth.  She said: “Little children are victims of senseless gun violence ...  I come to the same conclusion ... we are in a state of chaos."   It was marred when news of dire climate change warnings dominated the news. It was marred when children searched for food in the rubbish of the streets of Yemen. It was marred when an eight-year-old girl was sold, a common practice, in Afghanistan so the rest of her family could eat in a region of unspeakable, deepening drought. Marine life die as it engulfs plastic instead of food. Wildfires still smolder. A volcano erupts in Guatemala. Vietnam floods. El Nino triggers severe weather in South America. Tijuana declares a humanitarian crisis as the migrant caravan nears, while thousands of U.S. troops wait on the other side of the border. We live in a state of wonder, marred by chaos.  

Today, our last Sunday of the church year, is called “Christ the King” Sunday.  Christ the King began in 1925, in the context of turmoil and unrest, wonder and chaos, a marred world in a time of splendor, much like we experience today.   1925 was a very serious time for our world. We had just emerged from the war to end all wars, and the signs were everywhere that it was hurtling towards another. An influenza pandemic killed 50 million people.There were unsettling economic troubles. A rising German politician named Adolf Hitler published his autobiography and political theories in a book entitled, Mien Kampf.  The Italian leader Benito Mussolini dissolved the Italian parliament and became dictator. The far right and fascism spread in the face of the growing communist movement. The US was swayed by isolationism, the roaring 20s, the Scopes trial, and prohibition.  5% of the population owned 1/3 of the wealth; 42 % lived below the poverty line. The KKK was revived, and immigration was under attack, eugenics was a popular social movement in the 1920s. So the Pope declared, in a world struggling, conflicting powers, it is Christ who is King.

       Christ the King, on this last Sunday of November, the last Sunday of our liturgical year, that first and foremost, no matter what the world says, our allegiance is to Christ.  It is our duty to listen to and observe Jesus --- not just in the wonder but in the midst of the chaos of the world.


With the beauty of the season unfolding around us, our gospel lesson brings us face to face with Jesus, on the day of his death, standing before the Procurator Pilate.   It is significant to note that at both the birth of Jesus and at the death of Jesus political leaders are named and present. When we celebrate Jesus’ birth later in December, we will recall Herod the Great and the massacre of the innocents, the census of Caesar Augustus all interwoven into the birth story and impact the early life of Jesus. And now, on the verge of Jesus’ death, Pontius Pilate, the fifth prefect of Judea, interrogates Jesus – with the religious leadership waiting in the wings, pulling the strings.  

In all fourth gospels Pilate asks Jesus bluntly, “Are you the king of the Jews? It’s a question of life or death.  Jesus never called himself king of the Jews. But the religious leadership are setting him up.  Pilate must play this game. It is clear from the beating Jesus received during the night that no king would be treated in such a manner. But Pilate plays along not realizing who Jesus truly is: King of King. Lord of Lord. Holy Kingship that upends the human craving for power and control.


Pilate asks question after question to Jesus, who in turn stays silent: I am not a Jew am I?  What have you done?  So you are a king? Where are you from? Do you refuse to speak to me?    What shall I do with Jesus?  What evil has he done? Do you not know that I have the power to release you and the power to crucify you, and finally, Pilate’s startling inquiry, “What is truth?”  Before Jesus can answer, Pilate walks away and faces the crowd and asks them one more question: “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?”


Pressured by the crowd and leaders, Pilate delivers Jesus up to be crucified.  Pilate knows Jesus is innocent. But he doesn’t care.  Pilate took water and washed his hands before the crowd and says, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.  It is your responsibility.”  Pilate convinced himself that he had done nothing bad to Jesus when he was the only man in the city who could pass the death sentence. Pilate avoids taking responsibility. Pilate demonstrates leadership in its worst light: leadership unwilling to take a stance.  To discover the truth. To lead through the chaos to light.  
Contrast this to Jesus’ foot washing ceremony of the night before.  Jesus lowered himself. He assumes responsibility for leading his disciples. Jesus attaches himself to those whom he serves -- he invests himself in the lives of others – Jesus cares, and he stands with those, even those who ultimately disappointment him.



So, what is truth, Pilate?


The main job of the Roman provincial governors was to keep things under control, to collect taxes and keep the peace. That was the truth, in their minds. Rome was in control. Caesar was god. In order to govern, the Romans usually let the local people keep their own religion and, as far as possible, manage their own affairs.  Did Pilate interrogate Jesus in the interest of “Truth?” No. It was a cat and mouse game mean to enhance Pilate’s esteem in front of the crowds. Pilate acted like a modern CEO, protecting his stockholders’ interests, while hoping for that nice bonus at the end of the quarter.


Pilate is the opposite of the Kingly Christ. Pilate plundered the Temple treasury to construct an aqueduct into Jerusalem.  He didn’t stop at beating protestors to death.  Luke 13.1 mentions Pilate mixing the blood of Temple sacrifices with that of Galileans he had murdered. That was truth, in Pilate’s eyes. Raw power.  Getting to do whatever you want to, because you can.  Ignoring the dignity, pleas and plight of those with less or no power. Disposing of enemies, or even people who disagree with you.  This is Pilate’s truth. This is truth, as the powerful and wealthy live it. Power is truth.  With great irony this truth would depose Pilate as governor, exile him to northern Europe, where tradition says that he committed suicide in AD 37.


It is sad. How close, yet how far Pilate was from the Truth. Just a handshake away.  Pilate looked Truth in the eyes.  Pilate talked to Truth. But he didn’t understand. Truth was not an abstract construct.  Jesus was Truth Incarnate. Jesus is the Truth, and truth is spelled out in his teachings and healings, and actions, actions like washing the feet of his disciples and talking with dignity and strength with Pilate, that his kingdom was not of this world. Not a corrupt kingdom that allows a gross disparity of wealth and ignores the plight of those in need.  Jesus’ kingdom touches our hearts with a vision of the dignity of every person.  That is Jesus’ reign.


All those questions Pilate asked. He was so close. But so far.
Pilate failed -- but yet he still insisted on placing a sign on Jesus cross: “Here is the King of the Jews.”  Written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  The religious leadership was displeased. Pilate shrugged. “What I have written, I have written.”  We don’t know why Pilate did this.  But if a corrupt, cynical, heartless Roman administrator can recognize something about Jesus -- even in jest -- well, maybe we can too.



So today, we find ourselves being fitted for the times we are born into.   Living Truth, claim us, shape us, propel us to be part of the solution to the suffering around us! No more young girls shot dead in their bedroom.  No more children shifting through garbage for a morsel of food. No more children being sold in exchange for food for a family. No more of God’s creatures ingesting plastic. As we begin our journey toward Christmas, let us align ourselves to the reign of Truth. In this marred world, we will serve. We will practice love. We will seek peace.  We will demonstrate hope.  We will know joy.  We swear allegiance to Jesus, who was, who is, who is to come, the Alpha and Omega who is King of King, Lord of Lords, and leads us out of the chaos to true wonder, to the reign of righteousness created for us, this day and always. Amen.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/10/business/organizers-say-wal-mart-labor-protests-spread.html
http://www.thenation.com/blog/171429/black-friday-begins-early-walmart-workers-already-striking-six-states#
http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2011/12/14/six-waltons-have-more-wealth-than-the-bottom-30-of-americans/

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"A Harvest of Righteousness"

11/19/2018

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   Deut. 8: 7-18; 2 Corinth.9:6-15
Freeport & Merrick


Thanksgiving is upon us.  If you are experiencing preparation anxiety for the most important meal of the year – take comfort in these actual calls placed to the Butterball Turkey Help line.


       When a Talk-Line staffer asked a caller what state her turkey was in (meaning how thawed was it) the caller responded with, “Florida.”


      A gentleman called to tell the operator he cut his turkey in half with a chain saw and wanted to know if the oil from the chain would adversely affect the turkey.
      Or - can I thaw a frozen turkey using my electric hair dryer? Or can I wrap my turkey in an electric blanket? Or how can I  plop it in the aquarium with my tropical fish? Or in the tub while the kids are having their bath? Butterball also got a call from the owner of a chihuahua that climbed inside the raw bird while the owner’s back was turned. Then there’s the request, can I baste my turkey with suntan lotion? Get this question: how long does it take to thaw a fresh turkey?


Oh my.  And that’s just the turkey! The details of meals, trips and entertaining are all consuming as we observe this most significant holiday in our culture.  It is significant not for the food we consume, the company we keep, or that it’s now a gateway to the shopping orgies that begin around 6pm on Thanksgiving Eve -- or a football marathon to keep you from succumbing to food coma. Despite all this, Thanksgiving is important for it represents the best of who we can be. It reminds us who we are created to be at the core of our being. A giving, thankful people. 


Gratitude is a key, spiritual habit found in all religions, belief systems, among people all over the globe -- throughout all the ages.  Giving thanks is a habit mandated by God and faithfully practiced by Jesus. 


We look at our Deuteronomy text today-- as Moses is preparing the people of Israel for entering the Promised Land-- and what does he say?  “You shall eat your fill and bless the Lord your God for the good land that he has given you.” 


Moses insists the people keep God at the center of their lives once they were settled and prospered.  Do not exalt yourself” Moses warned.   Remember Egypt. Remember the great and terrible wilderness.  The arid wasteland, the poisonous snakes and scorpions.  Remember the tests. Don’t fall into idolatry thinking your achievements come from your power.   Remember your Sovereign Lord and give God thanks. Giving thanks is built into the ritual and life of the people of Israel, in times of affliction, in times of prosperity.   


The Pilgrims dug seven times more graves than they built huts in their early years in America.  But they celebrated the bountiful blessings of God.  From George Washington, to Abraham Lincoln, to Franklin Roosevelt, Thanksgiving Day has become entwined with American accomplishment and dreams, especially in times of trial and tribulation.  The key to giving thanks is not just when all is well.  We must give thanks even when we face worries and hardships.  That is woven in the history of Thanksgiving.  It is written in the biblical message. And it is the training we receive as Christians: to give when times are good, and when times are not so good. That is the faith we are called to exercise this week.


        According to scripture, thanksgiving has little to do with all the blessings we have -- but it has everything to do with how we use our blessings in the times we find ourselves in. 


Let us consider this: retail giants like Amazon, Walmart, Target and Macys encourage us to get off the couch and shop on Thanksgiving Day eve as a way to celebrate and inaugurate the “gift giving season.” What we used to call Christmas.  Can we consider this appeal to shop a blessing as we also live in a time of the greatest income inequality since the Great Depression?  


For a number of years now, Presbyterian leaders have encouraged us to take the Food Stamp Challenge as a way to raise our awareness of the hungry of 42.6 million people in the United States.  They along with others religious leaders nationwide make a pledge to live one week on what the highest amount the a single Food Stamp recipient receives about $192 a month:  a little over $48 a week.  That’s about $6.80 a day. $2.28 a meal. Imagine surviving on that. Even though food stamps are meant to supplement, it still is not a generous help.



 In addition, on the very tails of Thanksgiving, we are blanketed with advertisements luring us into a shopping frenzy known as Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, (thank goodness they’ve left Sunday alone for now).  At the very end of this extravaganza is Giving Tuesday.  Giving Tuesday is hailed by people of faith, by not-for-profits as a day to buy or donate to charities and causes we hold dear.  What troubles me is why can’t Giving Tuesday go first?  Why is it last? The fact that Giving Tuesday it comes after 3 or 4 days of spending frenzy tells us about the priorities our culture has set.   Do we really only want to give the dredges, our puny monetary leftovers to the people who need it most?  Our faith encourages us to make it a priority to give and shop through those organizations that pay fair wages, support fair trade and worker cooperatives around the world. Let’s skip the “Armageddon of retail” and spend our money wisely and compassionately as an act of Thanksgiving.

The apostle Paul teaches us, as Jesus did, that our service is best expressed in supplying the needs of the Lord’s people, and in seeing giving as overflowing in may expressions we can give thanks to God.  We thank God as we gather around the thanksgiving table, but more fully when we serve those who need help.  Paul encourages us to take such giving seriously. God blesses us – so in all things – all times – we will abound in every good work.  Our blessings bind us as a community, as a people, so that none should be lacking.  Now wouldn’t that be a day of true thanksgiving?


 At the end of our bulletin we say, “Our worship has ended; now our service begins.”  That is because service is an extension of worship.  When we serve others and care for them in their need, we are worshiping, just as much as we are worshiping in this very hour. 
        Look at this harvest table that represents our food offerings.  It is good we have accumulated this.  But I know we can do more – because Merrick is a generous, caring community.


So, this week, do all the wonderful, traditional acts of American Thanksgiving.  But as Christians, people of faith, let us do more.  Remember the poor, to whom we are spiritually bound. Do the Food Stamp challenge. Don’t forget Giving Tuesday.  Give food. Give clothing.  Encourage and challenge those of means to be compassionate and responsible.  As that old gospel song encourages, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.”   And in all things, give thanks. Make Thanksgiving Day a harvest of righteousness by your abundant acts of generosity. Let your life bless others, and above all -- let your life become a thank you note to God, written by your good and selfless service to others.  Amen.

 

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"My Two Cents"

11/13/2018

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Mark 12: 38-44; John 13
Freeport & Merrick
 
     There’s a story of a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country to show him how poor people live.  They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm. On their return, the father asked his son, “Did you see how poor people live? What did you learn from the trip?”  The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.”

Riches are in the eyes of the beholder.   Wealth might ease some problems in a consumer-driven society like ours, but they certainly do not guarantee happiness or contentment.  As people of faith we have to strike an uneasy balance.  The book of Timothy declares that “the love of money is a root of all evil’ (1 Tim 6:10.).  Yet we live in a culture where money is worshiped. Money is necessary to survive, and to get by.  We need money to buy our groceries, to pay rent or a mortgage, to purchase medicines, furnishings for our homes, gas for our cars and tickets to get on the train or bus; to pay for our cell phones and ipads and laptops. 

Remember six years ago when Hurricane Sandy hit – for months, years, we are cleaning, repairing, helping our neighbors, advocating and raising relief money. No doubt we were moved to reflect on the deeper questions of life that the storm has stirred up in us.  How quickly life can change for us.   How interdependent we are – on people and systems we never see.  What do we learn to value the most, when comforts are taken away? How have our values changed as a result of our individual and collective hardship? Is money so important after all?

It is appropriate -- that all these post-post-Sandy thoughts --  post-election thoughts, as we wonder about the future of our nation, when we confront the next mass shooting  -- and sadly it doesn’t surprise us any longer –  how all this all dovetails with a time that is traditionally considered “stewardship season” in the church. Stewardship is a key time when we are encouraged to reflect on our values -- and how well our beliefs are put into action in the time we volunteer, how and where we share our talents, and how we are challenged to give of our financial resources.  

We have more resources than we know.  But fear drives us to think otherwise.  We hold back. After all, there are so many competing claims on our time, our talents, our money.  We receive more solicitations over the mail and telephone than we know what to do with. So, what are the right choices?  What’s right for you, might not work for me.  What I need to do may be very different from someone on a fixed income, or someone blessed with enormous wealth or a high income. Yet, no matter our standing, stewardship challenges us to see ourselves as a gifted people living in a time of uncertainty. To give what is ours boldly in faith so to conquer our fear of giving.  To give – because we are made in the image of a God who gives – a God who gave us Jesus, Jesus who gave his live for us. So, giving is a sign of spiritual strength and maturity.  In giving, we become alive.

Today we have read two interesting texts about giving: the story from Mark that we normally call the widow’s mite, and the story of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet, from the Gospel of John.  Both stories take place in the context of Jesus’ last days before his death.  Jesus is aware his time is short. He needs to focus—he needs to get his message across as succinctly as he can -- as powerfully as he can.  This is his last chance to give and make a long-lasting impact.

So, in our reading today – Jesus is once more in the temple. Jesus decides to spend some of his precious remaining time observing how people were giving to the temple.  Rich people came and threw in a lot of money in the temple giving boxes.  Sometimes they would even blow horns to highlight their amazing gifts.  But then a poor widow, shunned, puts in the littlest amount. Two coins, worth next to nothing.  This impacts Jesus’s heart.  Jesus declares this widow gave more than all the rich people. She gave from all she had to live on – the others gave from their abundance.  The rich gave and didn’t miss the money. It had no impact on their lives.  The widow gave all she had, confident in the faith of God’s future goodness and care for her.

Jesus tells us that God doesn’t look at our bottom line giving.  God knows our situations are different.  It’s not about a cookie-cutter approach to giving.  Many people can give amazing amounts. George Lucas, of Star Wars fame, has a charitable foundation of over 1 billion. However, he is worth 5.7 billion.   This is an amazing gift, a blessing, but he still remains rich.  I compare that to Rose, a former parishioner, a widow twice over, who lived in an upper east side tenement all her life, volunteered daily well into her 90s, and out of her modest social security, made out her envelopes to the church faithfully every week.  Even after she could no longer climb the stairs to the church, I would visit her and she would faithfully hand me an envelope that contained may be two dollars. Rose lived on a fixed income, so those few dollars she gave mattered. In God’s eyes, Rose’s few dollars were like Lucas’s $5.7 billion. Our two cents, whatever that means to you or me, means a lot to God.  It makes a difference, in God’s economy of Grace.  Our acts to help, to love, to care, to stretch ourselves in sharing are what God is after, not some rigid figure.

Jesus, on the night before his death, did one thing. He gave his two cents. He got on his knees, with a basin and towel, and washed his disciples’ feet.   It is something just about anyone could do, but perhaps one of the hardest acts we can summon ourselves to. To come in contact with and meet a day-to-day, ordinary needs – cleaning dirty feet.  To be a servant to each other.  To embrace humility of caring.  Interesting, of the number of churches I have served, it is rare to find a community that wants to literally wash each other’s feet, although this is what Jesus did.  It is just too intimate and vulnerable.  Yet Jesus gave himself totally to his disciples, as he would give to the world on the cross the day of his death.  That was Jesus’s two cents.

         In this season of stewardship, we have the opportunity to reevaluate our values, what does it mean to be rich or poor. No matter where we fall on the spectrum of financial health, we each of us has our 2 cents to give.   I invite you to look at the index card in your bulletin.  Imagine that here represent your 2 cents. What is God calling you to give – of your time, your talents, your treasure?   Is it some more money you can give?  That cost of that second latte from Starbucks?  Is it your time you can volunteer?  Do you have talents of leadership, teaching, baking, visiting shut-ins, writing, or praying?   I invite you to write out a few lines quickly on the index card. Put in your gift, your two cents, whatever it stands for, in the collection plate when it comes around.  This is between you and God. But we will celebrate the gifts that are named, because these gifts, your gifts, will help the church to grow, to reach out to one another, into the community and care. The important thing is that everyone gives.  Everyone gives because everyone has something to offer.  Let’s make 100 percent giving, whatever amount, for this congregation, for this year, for this stewardship campaign.

In the midst of our challenges, our hopes and dreams, as we prayer for the future of our church, our families, our nation, may we experience the sacredness of giving – and be known as a people that kneels in service, and loves as a widow, giving her two cents.  Amen.
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/24/most-americans-live-paycheck-to-paycheck.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/15/how-much-americans-have-saved-for-retirement.html

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"First Things First"

11/5/2018

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Ruth 1:1-18; Mark 12:28-34:  All Saints Day
 
I’ve always loved the fact that the New York City Marathon seems to always fall near or on All Saints Day.  Running the marathon is a perfect metaphor for how we embrace our lives, or our faith.  Life, like faith, asks 100% of us. It demands complete devotion. It requires great sacrifice for great goals sometimes of which we never realized we were capable.  We are pulled toward by sheer grit. We need help. It calls forth entire  physical, spiritual, emotional and physical endurance. To run a marathon, 26.2 miles, we have to not only train properly for months on end – we give up many other pleasures to reach this one goal. Usually most of those 50,000 plus people out there are not motivated for the fame or place on the podium.  They are motivated by something more.  Like them, we give our whole heart, our whole mind, our entire soul, our whole strength.  We are truly surrounded by a great crowd a witnesses today who teach us about stewardship, and encourage us to give because we believe in the great ministries our church’s stand for, for the message of love, so prophetic at this time, that we proclaim every and every day.

Consider Patrick Harten, the air traffic control worker who helped Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger safely land a commercial airline on the Hudson, to FDNY Battalion Chief Joe Downey, who is running in honor of his late grandfather (Ray Downey) who led rescue operations on 9/11. 
Queens native Jeff Munoz began running as a means to cope with the depression that resulted from his mom’s passing. “After running an Road Runners four-mile race with a friend, he began to search for races that supported cancer awareness and similar causes.  In addition to helping him cope with his loss, running inspired Munoz to encourage others to run.
One of this year’s highest-profile fundraisers was tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who used her first marathon to raise more than $50,000 for Team for Kids. “Sports have been a huge part of my life ever since I was a little girl,” said Wozniacki, 24, of Denmark, who reached the US Open final this year and is ranked number eight in the world. “I wanted to help other kids as well, especially those who don’t have the same opportunities I had as a child.”  Two other members of Team for Kids, Drew Swiss and Dambisa Moyo, raised $83,000 and $20,000, respectively, and received the Jack and Lewis Rudin Awards as the top male and female fundraisers. Swiss has won the award seven years in a row, raising more than $400,000 for  youth and community service programs.
One of the youngest New York City Marathon finishers, 18-year-old Quinn Heyrich of Madison, NJ, also ran for Team for Kids. “I wanted to run a marathon and running for Team for Kids made sense for me,” said Heyrich. “I’ve had a lot of privileges and I really wanted to help people who don’t have the opportunities that I’ve had.”
Other celebrities celebrated a diverse range of causes. Amber Sabathia (wife of Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia), retired Giants running back Tiki Barber, and Alexis Stoudemire (wife of Knicks Amar’e Stoudemire), are running for a Foundation which has a mission to enrich the lives of inner-city youth.

Most of the other charity runners took part with a lower profile, but their stories are no less compelling. “I’m here today running on behalf of an organization that saved my life,” said Karen Lavelle of Dublin, Ireland, who ran for St. James’s Hospital Oncology, where she was treated for cervical cancer a year ago. “Without them, I would not be here.”  Last year, 9,300 runners raised $35.5 million dollars for charities of their choice,
I love these stories.  Do you know why?  These people are saints. They are ordinary people, like us, doing something hard, to raise funds for those in need.     They are a great crowd of witnesses, as the Bible tells us.  I was raised to consider saints to the Olympian, the champion, the gold medalist among regular believers who barely break a sweat getting to church on time, doing nice things throughout the week.  Those saints I was believed existed in a realm of super-sanctity never to be penetrated the realm of regular mortals that hoped to get to heaven by the skin of their teeth.  This is how I was raised to believe in the communion of saints, to collect saint cards the way some kids collected baseball cards. 

A lot has changed in my understanding. Perhaps the understanding of being a saint hasn’t changed because Jesus’ words haven’t changed— “You shall love the Lord Your God with All Your Heart and with all your soul, and with all your soul, and with all you r mind and with all your strength.” And then without missing a beat Jesus adds from Lev.19:12 “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”   That’s what saints are made of.  That’s what matters. It’s hard. It’s difficult. It’s the spiritual marathon we are called to. But the point is it’s for everyone. Not just a few.  Those who think they are not qualified as saints are mistaken.  Jesus calls us all.  We are called to give, to our community, to church’s stewardship campaigns to keep our church strong and empowered to carry out ministry.

Look at our story from Ruth.   Ruth is a saint, an example of an ordinary person who chose to love well, despite loss, grief and facing the unknown.  Ruth had quite a marathon placed before her. 

Ruth, a Moabite woman, is married ten years to a Jewish man dies leaving her a widow and childless.  To top it off, her brother in law dies and her father in law dies.  Three widows alone in a male dominated culture.  Naomi, her mother in law, decides to go home to Bethlehem in Judah.

Ruth stays with Naomi on her 30 miles journey back to Bethlehem.  What will await them?  How will they support themselves?  Talk about fear and anxiety. Ruth however gives this to Naomi.  She will not let her go alone.

Naomi and Ruth go to Bethlehem and they persevere.  Little by little the rebuild a life. Through Ruth’s resourcefulness and faithfulness and transformation occurs for her and Naomi.  From the rest of the story we know that Naomi plays matchmaker for Ruth with a relative of her dead husband, Boaz.  Ruth is remarried and has a child; this child in turn becomes the grandfather of King David, the royal descendant of Jesus.  Ruth went the distance. She is a saintly figure because she loved in the midst of heartache and uncertainty, and shows us that it is possible to love, to love again after loss, and to care for others in their need.  That’s what saints do.

It is not surprising that the most significant investment we must make in in becoming a saint is what we do with ourselves. The operative word here is love.  Jesus clearly states: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”   We experience self-love through self-acceptance, self-worth, a healthy self-esteem, an ability to relate, to forgive and be forgiven, and believe that our lives have a purpose and a meaning.  We can’t believe this if there is no self-love borne from God.  From these seeds of self-love, we love others, and we develop into the saints God calls us to be.  By becoming the shining example of love, we inspire love in others.  Love your neighbor as you love yourself Jesus said.  Because we accomplish great things when we allow God’s love to fill us, free us, claim us, and we can acknowledge it, without boasting, without shame, we are God’s beloved.  
We know the ghosts and demons of Halloween are not vanquished from our world just because it is All Saints Day. That’s why we need the example of the saints.  It’s why we need each other.  It is only the steady light of each other’s love that transform the demons of fear and the ghosts of the past into servants of love.

We are the living saints of the church.  We have been called to do new things.   First Things First. We have been called to love ourselves and to love our neighbor as ourselves.  To be saints.   Stay on course in this marathon of faith and cross the finish line. Therefore, we hear the scriptures cheer us on: since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus. the author and perfecter of our faith.  Hebrews 12:1.  Let us join the unending marathon of faith, celebrate each other today, then when we reach Heaven’s shores, know we will be welcomed and cheered on by the crowds of saints that await us.  Amen.



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    Moirajo is a minister, social worker, wife, mother, writer and animal lover. That's just for starters. Join the story, there's so much we can share together! 

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