All Saints Day
Since Easter was about as early in the calendar as it can get this year the Pentecost Season and its lectionary has stretched to passages not normally handled. Today we take a break for one of the lesser festivals of the church year.
All Saints Day is properly November First the day following All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe'en. In the Lutheran Church it follows Reformation Sunday, also October 31. I believe it is safe to say that the observance serves to put a Christian Gloss on a festival the pre-dates Christianity by centuries. Various Sects hold this celebration at various times of the year. It should be stressed here on this day that saints are not those who have lived saintly lives or performed saintly acts but the priesthood of all believers who form the church universal, in this context we are all saints.
Today's lessons combine apocalyptic writings and passages delving into what it means to be a member of the communion of saints.
The pericope does its typical cherry-picking job leaving out the verses in Daniel that complete the message and making the passage supplied nearly meaningless. The intent appears to be the final verse which confirms that the saints will inherit the Kingdom of God Forever.
The Psalm praises God for his support and deliverance and his people's victory over their enemies. In fact the tone of its end verses is rather bloody-minded.
The Epistle confirms that Christ's Church, the communion of saints will inherit the Kingdom of God. It is worthwhile to remember that saints in this context are not saintly but rather the priesthood of all believers, the members of the church universal.
The Gospel in Luke lists several of the Beatitudes that form part of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and continues with a group of Woes and ends with:
Luk 6:31 Whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them.
Are we being given a guide for how saints should behave? I think it's safe to say that I feel this group of lessons scrapes the bottom of the barrel and that I'm glad I don't personally have to preach a sermon based on them. The commentaries I've read tended to beat around the bush without attempting to find a theme or purpose for this group of lessons.
The beatitudes and woes appear to be a form of New Testament Wisdom Literature. This set seems to predict good things for the downtrodden and continue the theme of the ills that will befall the rich and successful in life especially if they fail to share their good fortune with others.
Since Easter was about as early in the calendar as it can get this year the Pentecost Season and its lectionary has stretched to passages not normally handled. Today we take a break for one of the lesser festivals of the church year.
All Saints Day is properly November First the day following All Hallows Eve, or Hallowe'en. In the Lutheran Church it follows Reformation Sunday, also October 31. I believe it is safe to say that the observance serves to put a Christian Gloss on a festival the pre-dates Christianity by centuries. Various Sects hold this celebration at various times of the year. It should be stressed here on this day that saints are not those who have lived saintly lives or performed saintly acts but the priesthood of all believers who form the church universal, in this context we are all saints.
Today's lessons combine apocalyptic writings and passages delving into what it means to be a member of the communion of saints.
The pericope does its typical cherry-picking job leaving out the verses in Daniel that complete the message and making the passage supplied nearly meaningless. The intent appears to be the final verse which confirms that the saints will inherit the Kingdom of God Forever.
The Psalm praises God for his support and deliverance and his people's victory over their enemies. In fact the tone of its end verses is rather bloody-minded.
The Epistle confirms that Christ's Church, the communion of saints will inherit the Kingdom of God. It is worthwhile to remember that saints in this context are not saintly but rather the priesthood of all believers, the members of the church universal.
The Gospel in Luke lists several of the Beatitudes that form part of the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 and continues with a group of Woes and ends with:
Luk 6:31 Whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them.
Are we being given a guide for how saints should behave? I think it's safe to say that I feel this group of lessons scrapes the bottom of the barrel and that I'm glad I don't personally have to preach a sermon based on them. The commentaries I've read tended to beat around the bush without attempting to find a theme or purpose for this group of lessons.
The beatitudes and woes appear to be a form of New Testament Wisdom Literature. This set seems to predict good things for the downtrodden and continue the theme of the ills that will befall the rich and successful in life especially if they fail to share their good fortune with others.
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