So, tomorrow in the Lutheran liturgical calendar is Reformation Sunday, then next Sunday is All Saints Day, and then that season that ends the Church Year by pointing us to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, aka Judgement Day.
I like this time of year for a couple of reasons: 1. We get to wear different color vestments since we have been in green all summer; and 2. Because the Scripture Lessons for the Sundays are full of action; not only what God has done in Christ Jesus, but what is coming. Let me take this apart a little:
Reformation Day is one observance I am positive that our Roman Catholic brethren (separated as they are) will not be celebrating. Truth be told, I don’t like it that much myself because it is a celebration of the second major split that occurred in the Western Church. The first split took place in 1054 when both the Pope and the Patriarch of the Eastern Church (aka Orthodox) pronounced excommunication on the other. I will leave the theology of that for another day.
So this former Roman Catholic is happy to be in the Lutheran priesthood not the least of why is named Carol, my amazing wife and children, grandchildren and soon our first great-granddaughter.
All Saints Day is an observance that I am surprised is still in our calendar. I grew up with “Saint’s Days” being on the Church Calendar, and I remember that old Eucharistic Prayer I that listed amongst others “SS Cosmos and Damian” and those saints that likely caused my ancestors to believe “SS Cyril and Methodius”. So, what is a Lutheran to do with a day when all of the saints that didn’t rate a day of their own are celebrated on All Saints Day? Well we see all of those who are Baptized to be “saints” as part of our “fully saint/fully sinner” paradox we do not try to solve.
I just enjoy remembering those who brought the faith to my own life and I love to hear the stories of my fellow sinner/saints and their faith development and those they remember and thank God for many times a year.
The Last Sundays of the Church Year are an opportunity for me to talk about one of my favorite subjects: eternal life. Living through the past 70 years I have seen and heard a lot of “evangelists” try to scare folks into heaven by focusing on hell. I have no use for that “style” of evangelizing because Christ died to make eternal life in the company of all of the saints accessible to all.
I really get passionate about describing what I see as the BEST NEWS EVER: The Cross of Christ, His death and resurrection have once and for all atoned for all of the sin that humans have or will commit. To be sure, that does not mean that all persons will spend eternity in the New Heaven and New Earth, because tragically Jesus and those who follow him (including me) warn that if we live outside of God’s saving grace we will spend eternity separated from God and all of us who trust in Jesus.
With the reality of faith being the criteria for Paradise, it boggles my mind that folks consciously or by compulsion will refuse this gift of eternal life amongst all of the saints! When this season of the Church ends we begin the Church Year once again with the season of Advent.
I pray my little travelogue of the next few weeks has been helpful to you. Please do submit questions and comments that will enable some better focus on areas you may not understand. I pray you will join us for Reformation, that you will meet me at Christ Lutheran Church in Coolidge for All Saints Day and then back at Risen Savior through the rest of November.
May the peace of Christ that passes all understanding guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
Oh, and “GO DIAMONDBACKS” and as always GO PACK!