All Saints Day - The Sermon

• 

The Gospel

Matthew 5:1-12

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

The Sermon

November 1^st was All Saints Day and in the Episcopal Church we have the option of reading that Gospel passage on the following Sunday which is today. What I just read to you is the Sermon on the Mount. It is such an uplifting sermon that I felt it might just perk everyone up. I believe that sometimes we spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on the things we do wrong. I mean the times when we make choices that our better natures would not approve of. We sin.

This is the longest recorded sermon by Jesus in the new testament and in it Jesus tells us we are blessed. Jesus reminds us that there are so many good things that good people do.

Let me go through them:

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. This is one of the most talked about of the beatitudes. What does it mean to be poor in spirit. One interpretation has it that we cannot reach God's Kingdom on our own because we are simply not good enough. Another is that the term 'poor in spirit' actually in ancient times meant those living in poverty. Anyone who has been poor knows that hope is sometimes all that keeps you going. A kingdom in heaven is that hope.
2. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted. We have all had loss in our lives and we can take comfort in these words by Jesus
3. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth. The world is not won by conquest and domination. True inheritance of the earth comes through humility.
4. Blessed are those who hunger for rightness for they will be filled. When we stand up for what is right and true we will find comfort in our beliefs.
5. Blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy. There is a saying 'you get what you give'.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God. We are all works in progress and I can safely say that I am not pure but I am headed in the right direction.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called children of God. God wants us to find peace. When we are at peace with ourselves, it will be seen and experienced by others.
8. Blessed are you who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Have you noticed in this reading that Jesus frequently mentions the kingdom of heaven? I believe the kingdom of heaven is inside each of us. We just need to open ourselves up to it. When I think of each of you I see blessings in you all. You have mourned someone because you loved them. Many of you are humble. You stand up for what is right. Some of you have been persecuted in your lives. The kingdom of God is in your grasp. Jesus has promised it to you.

Does this mean that because you are blessed you will no longer face hard times? That you will never get sick. Of course not. A blessing is not like a vaccination. We will all have times that try our souls. Know that God is watching out for you. You are marked as one of God's own.

Amen