Photo: Rev. John Emig (son of our Founding Pastor, Rev. Don Emig) came to worship with us on All Saints Sunday.
Today we are celebrating “All Saints Sunday,” because this past Friday – November 1 – was All Saints Day.
A few years ago at my previous church, one of our newer members seemed surprised that we in the United Church of Christ celebrate All Saints Day. She said she thought the holiday was just for Catholics.
Well, no, that isn’t the case. Lots of different Christian churches around the world celebrate All Saints Day, though it’s true that Catholics seem to put more emphasis on the saints than we do.
Catholic churches are often named for saints; there are statues of saints in many Catholic churches; and Catholics pray to different saints for different things.
So, for example, if you lose your keys, you pray to one saint. If you have a sore throat, you pray to another saint.
Maybe that seems silly to you, but I love learning about the lives of the saints.
Just as writers study other great writers, and actors study other great actors, I think that all of us who are consciously walking the spiritual path have a lot to learn from studying the lives of the saints…because, I believe, all of us called to be saints.
Now, I know, we often think of saints as extraordinary people who led such perfectly holy lives that we could never possibly attain their level of sanctity.
We put them up on pedestals, but, you know, the saints were just ordinary people like you and me, but they had an extraordinary love for God and for one another.
And, so, today, on All Saints Sunday, we not only remember the saints who have been recognized by the Church, but we also remember our loved ones who have died and who now dwell in the company of angels and saints.
All Saints Day is always celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween. You may know that the word Halloween means “All Hallows Eve.” Hallows means “Holy Ones.” It’s another words for “Saints.” So, Halloween is the eve (the day) before All Saints Day.
On Halloween, people dress up like ghosts and goblins, not the original purpose wasn’t to be scary, but welcome in the Spirits, those who have died.
It reminds me of the celebration of Dia de los Muertos, Day of the Dead, which our Mexican friends are celebrating right now.
Beautiful altars are set up in Mexican homes with photos and memorabilia of loved ones who have died; their favorite music is played in the home; and their favorite foods are prepared.
It’s not a time of sadness. It’s a time of celebration, recognizing that our loved ones who have died are still very much alive here with us in Spirit.
Now, I haven’t even been your pastor here for a full year, but in that short period of time, I have already officiated seven memorial services or “Celebrations of Life” here in the church.
And, each time I do so, I reminded of what Jesus told us: That death is not the end of the story; that there is resurrection and new life.
Our loved ones who have passed may no longer be with us on the physical plane, but they are very much alive in the spiritual realm.
So, today, on All Saints Sunday, we remember, and honor, and celebrate all of them, and we also remind ourselves that we, too, have been called to be saints.
In the gospel reading from today’s lectionary, Jesus gives the apostles two new commandments: love God and love one another. With those two commandments, Jesus was really giving us the instructions for how to be saints.
But, that doesn’t mean that we become someone else – that we become some sort of pious, holy-roller.
When we follow these commandments, we become more and more of our true selves (our authentic selves)… more and more of who God created us to be.
When we put God first in everything…and when we love one another, forgive one another, and serve one another…we die more-and-more to the false self (the ego self), and we awaken to more-and-more of the Christ Self, the Divine Self.
Now, earlier this year, I gave a sermon about how the 10 Commandments given to Moses are pretty easy for me to follow. I don’t really struggle on regular basis with honoring the Sabbath or with honoring my mother and father. I don’t really feel the urge each day to steal or to kill.
But, I must admit that this new commandment given to us by Jesus is a difficult one for me to follow. I struggle on almost a daily basis with loving my neighbor, especially those who are cause so much discord and harm to others.
But, I’m reminded that Jesus’s greatest commandment is actually two-fold. When we demonstrate love of neighbor (especially those neighbors who challenging us), we are demonstrating our love for God.
Many of you, I’m sure, are familiar with Dorothy Day, the 20th Century social justice activist who started the Catholic Worker Movement.
Dorothy Day said, “I really only love God as much as the person I love the least.”
That’s why these commandments are two-fold.
I also think that with these two great commandments, Jesus is calling us to both action and contemplation. Doing and Being.
A few years ago, I led a church group on retreat in New Mexico at a place called “The Center for Action and Contemplation,” which was founded by Richard Rohr.
And, one of their core principles is “We need a contemplative mind in order to do compassionate action.”
Now, our denomination, The United Church of Christ – like many mainline Protestant denominations – is really good at action…marching on the front lines, helping refugees, building schools, providing shelter and aid….all wonderful things.
However, the Christian church – including our denomination – hasn’t been very good with giving us the tools to be contemplative. We place more importance on DO-ing rather than BE-ing.
But Jesus’s 2 Commandments (Love of Neighbor and Love of God) call us to both action and contemplation.
So how do we become more contemplative? Well, we do it by attuning ourselves to the Master’s voice.
If you are a dog owner, you know that dogs follow the commands (the commandments) of their Master…they’re attuned to their Master’s commands, to their Master’s voice.
Now, Jesus never used the dog analogy, but he used the sheep analogy….how the sheep follow the shepherd’s voice. Jesus said, “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they know me.”
As many of you know, the motto of our denomination, the United Church of Christ, is “God is Still Speaking.” And, that is true. God is still speaking, but are you listening?
Being a contemplative requires us attune ourselves to the Master’s voice…and we do that in silence.
The late Thomas Keating (who taught us Centering Prayer) said, “Silence is God’s first language; everything else is a poor translation. In order to hear that language, we must learn to be still and rest in God.”
So, my friends, this week I invite you to find time each day for both contemplation and action. Still your mind in the Silence of prayer and meditation, so that you can attune yourself more fully to the Master’s voice, which is always calling us to put more-and-more love into action.
And, on this All Saints Sunday, may we remember the examples of all the Saints who have come before us, those contemplatives who put love into action and who remind us and inspire us to continue to do the work of Justice.
For all of us are called to be saints…and to create a Just World for All.
May it be so. Amen.