Saints Are Awake to Life’s Deepest Joy

Luke 6:20-31

Today we observe All Saints. Because it is an important celebration, we need to come to some agreement on what is meant by a “saint.” If you Google the word, you discover many different definitions and understandings. Among some Protestant groups, every Christian becomes a saint upon joining the “Church Triumphant.” In that understanding, All Saints honors and remembers all who have died in Christ and sainthood is the designation of all deceased Christians. Among Protestants, saints are understood, not only as Christians who have died, but also as the living Christians who lead exemplary lives of faith or who serve as extraordinary teachers of the faith. The Roman Catholic church has a narrower understanding and well-defined process concerning sainthood. The designation of saint is bestowed only on those who have met certain stringent requirements

For today’s All Saints observance let us consider saints as people of faith, living or dead. Let us think of a saint as a great teacher of the faith. Let us also understand sainthood as the experience of attaining the deepest joy, happiness, and blessedness that life has to offer. Imagine saints as the people who have come to know God face￾to-face. Not only that, think of saints as those who, by their lives, give us a glimpse of the nature of God and God’s ways. Saints live abundant lives because they are awakened to the presence of God. In turn, they awaken us to God’s presence among us.

As we observe All Saints, I want each of you to ponder questions like: Who are the people who have played or now play the role of saint in your life? Who have been your role models for Christian living? Who has provoked meaningful, positive change in the direction of your life? Who are the people who have moved you closer to God? During your journey, who have you met who radiates a blessed joy that could come from no other source than having caught a glimpse of God? Your answers to these questions will reveal the identity of the saints you have encountered. Let us remember and give thanks for these saints today.

The lectionary gospel reading for today comes from Luke 6:20-31. The opening verses are Luke’s version of the Beatitudes. They differ a bit from Matthew’s Beatitudes. Portions of this pericope reads, “Blessed are you who are poor… Blessed are you who are hungry now… Blessed are you who weep… Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man” (vv. 20-22).

The Greek word in this passage behind the English notion of “blessed” is makarios. Its history and use is long and complicated. When we chase it into a corner and look at it closely, markarios refers to joy that is not dependent on circumstances. Often people say, “I would be happy if I was rich, if I could solve this problem, if I was healthier, if I could defeat my enemies, if I was more loved and appreciated.” Makarios is the joy, the bliss, the happiness, that is not dependent on outward circumstances. It is the peace that passes all understanding.

While there are some people who are likely choices for being thought a saint, there are others who are unlikely. Until recently, few would have predicted that Dan had saintly potential. He is just another ordinary guy. Most think of him as simply a good husband and neighbor who goes to church every week if he doesn’t play golf, go fishing, or find something else to do on Sunday morning. Dan has worked many years for the same company doing the same thing. He describes his work as “eight hours every day building a stack of papers on the left of my desk by reading and then moving papers from the stack on the right.”

Not only does Dan’s job sound boring, those who know him have concluded that adjective fits Dan’s life. He never hurt anyone, but Dan never thought it important to help anyone either. He is just a neighbor down the street. He doesn’t take risks, and he always seems immune to trying anything new. Most people consider Dan to be as steady as a rock and about as interesting.

For that reason, people were surprised when Dan became a Big Brother to a poor, inner-city teenager from a single-parent home. No one could have predicted that. Dan had few credentials for the task. He had not expressed any previous concern for the poor. Dan was not known as open-minded on matters of race. He didn’t even seem to like teenagers. Despite that, Dan became deeply involved in this young man’s life.

Recently, Dan requested a day’s leave from work. This was an unusual request. Dan seldom asked for time off. His supervisor inquired, “For what purpose?”

Dan told him about becoming a Big Brother to this young man named DeMonte. He explained that before he knew him, DeMonte had gotten in trouble with the law. Now he had an upcoming court appearance and Dan wanted to be there to support him. “His mother can’t get the day off her job. He has no other family.”

Dan went on to explain that being with this young man had not been a particularly pleasant experience. In fact, at times, it had been extremely difficult. However, it had been one of the most important things he had done as a Christian. It had been a very meaningful way for him to put my faith into action. “I must be in court with my friend DeMonte next Thursday,” Dan concluded.

His family and friends agree. This wasn’t typical behavior for Dan. He normally didn’t do difficult things. Now he is insisting on it. Dan usually feels anxious about driving through inner-city neighborhoods. Now he feels compelled to face this fear. People have openly wondered, “What has gotten into Dan?”

Dan certainly had gotten too comfortable. He was dozing and missing the abundance of life promised by God through faith in Christ Jesus. Perhaps an Angels of Mercy disturbed Dan, woke him up to the needs of others, and rescued him from missing his life.

It is far too early to know where the story of Dan and DeMonte will go. If it has a happy ending thirty or forty years hence, DeMonte might remember Dan, the man from the suburbs who drove into the city to be his friend when he was struggling to grow up. Perhaps DeMonte will think of Dan as one of the saints he has known.

This is the day set aside to honor and give thanks for the saints. Can you name the saints in your life? A saint is a person of faith living or dead. You might know a saint who is a particularly good role model of Christian living or perhaps a saintly teacher of the Christian faith. Saints are the people who experience the deepest joy, happiness, and blessedness that life has to offer. Saints are the people who have come to know God face-to-face. Saints live abundant lives because they are awakened to the presence of God. In turn, they awaken us.

The day may come when DeMonte will think of Dan as a saint in his life. What about you? Do you know people who have made a saintly impression on your life? Give thanks and praise to God for the saints. Amen and Amen.