Pr. DFD : All Saints Day

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Sunday, October 31, 2021

All Saints Observed

All Saints (Observed)

Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17

1 John 3:1–3

Matthew 5:1–12

Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ All Saints

“A great multitude … from all tribes and peoples and languages” cry out, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne” (Revelation 7:9–10). Faith-filled saints from every place and time with unified voices eternally magnify the Lamb of God. As His beloved children, we, too, “shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Joined with the throng of angels and a myriad of saints, we shall “serve him day and night in his temple” (Revelation 7:15). In our earthly tension vacillating between saint and sinner, faith and doubt, sacred and profane, we earnestly seek Jesus to calm our fears, comfort our spirits and forgive our sins. The Holy Spirit, through faith in Christ propels us forward, fortifying us in Word and Sacrament, to our eternal home. In the midst of our constant struggle as believers, we need to be blessed. And so we are. The poor in spirit, the meek, the hungry, the thirsty, the merciful, the pure and the persecuted are all blessed, and we will most certainly inherit the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:1–12).

O Almighty God, by whom we are graciously knit together as one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which You had prepared for those who love You; through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.

Gracious Savior, keep my eyes ever focused on You and Your blessings, which are mine by grace alone. Amen

Jesus introduces His Sermon on the Mount with nine beatitudes that detail the future blessedness of His disciples. These promised blessings are God's gracious gifts to those who repent of their sins and trust Christ for righteousness. Only after Jesus has assured His disciples of God's goodness to them does He call on them,, in the rest of His sermon, to be good and do good. When we recognize our own spiritual poverty when the Lord leads us to hunger and thirst for righteousness, when He makes us pure in heart so that we seek to worship only the true God, then we are blessed now and forever.

Observe both future and present tenses...

Life for the Christian is a life that is lived by faith - On this All Saints Day Jesus the greatest teacher who has ever lived gives a description of the child of God who has been incorporated into the family of faith. These Beatitudes are the gifts the Savior has given to you.

It is yours now and soon to come. Blessed now are present the rewards future…now and not yet.

Matthew 5:1

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Matthew 5:2

καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων·

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Having sat down, the posture of prophet, posture of learning. Another Moses, Jesus is THE prophet. He came to preach and to die. Works of mercy are out of His compassion. He opens His mouth like that of creation.

Matthew 5:3

Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. To be poor is to rely on the mercy of God. These are indicative and the rewards are all passive.

Not blessed are the growing churches. The only command is "rejoice and be glad"

Matthew 5:4

μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who mourn, you are a Christian. You will mourn, but you will be comforted. What do we mourn? As Jesus grieved over Lazarus.

Preach theology of grace as opposed to theology of glory.

Matthew 5:5

μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Meek inherit the earth. Meek are powerless, a picture of the cross. Inherit for free from those who would try to take by force. This is anti world. This is completely out of the realm of measurement and feeling

Matthew 5:6

μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

They will be engorged/enlarged. Their cup will run over for those who hunger after righteousness.

Your blessedness comes from the blessed one who blesses.

Matthew 5:7

μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The merciful receive mercy. Mercy to the deserving is justice. Mercy is only to the undeserving. Show mercy as you have been shown mercy.

The unmerciful serving misrepresented the king who had shown mercy. He acts as if the king still had the debt hanging over them.

Matthew 5:8

μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the clean in heart because they themselves will see God. The only way in which you see God.

Matthew 5:9

μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

Blessed are the ones making peace they will be called God's sons.

Matthew 5:10

μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The ones who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heavens.

Matthew 5:11

μακάριοί ἐστε ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶς καὶ διώξωσιν καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν [a]πονηρὸν καθ’ ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Blessed whenever they reproach you and say all evil against you on account of me.

Matthew 5:12

χαίρετε καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε, ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς· οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Rejoice be glad, your reward is in heaven. In this sameness the prophets were persecuted.

Saturday, October 31, 2020

All Saints

November 1, 2020
Matthew 5:1-12

Gracious Savior, keep my eyes ever focused on You and Your blessings, which are mine by grace alone. To that end, Lord Jesus, bless Your Word, that we might trust in You.

Life for the Christian is a life that is lived by faith. – On this All Saints Day - Jesus the greatest teacher who has ever lived gives a description of the child of God who has been incorporated into the family of faith.

This is exactly what John teaches in our Epistle lesson for today. See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. – 1 John 3:1-3

Four powerful words. “And so we are.”

What the world sees as tragic or empty, Jesus sees as blessed. However, His descriptions might sound strange to human ears. Humility. Mourning. Gentleness. Peacefulness. Does not sound like a blessed life.

Jesus lived by these descriptions Himself. We take notice of them in His words and His actions. He Himself lived them all.

We dare not recite these ‘blessed’ words as some sort of mantra. To the contrary, our national creed is one of optimism. Not hunger or thirst of any kind.

“Blessed are the peacemakers” says Jesus. V 9 But in our American culture those who pursue peace risk having their patriotism called into question.

We live in a nation which says: Blessed are the well-educated, for they will get the good jobs.

Blessed are the well-connected, for their aspirations will not go unnoticed.

Blessed are you when you know what you want, and go after it with everything you’ve got. For God helps those who help themselves.

If we are honest, we must admit that the world Jesus asserts as fact is not the world we have made for ourselves. [1]

These statements are description, not prescription.[2]

Those who are blessed receive the gifts the Savior has given. And what has the Savior given?

1. There is comfort for those who mourn now – Vs. 4 - Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

"Mourning" describes a person who becomes aware of his personal offense to God and the pain that he has brought to others by his sinful behavior. The believer who mourns sees beyond the consequences of his wrongdoing. Into the real offenses done to others.

For the poor in spirit who know their sin. They grieve over their guilt. They seek the grace of forgiveness. And for those who mourn. They understand. What sin and death have done to all people. And to our broken world.

Notice the Savior’s words. You will mourn. But you will be comforted.

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret. Yet worldly sorrow brings death. -2 Corinthians 7:10

Mourning. Specifically over the sins we have committed against God. - Sorrow for the fact that our sins brought God’s Son to the cross.

Yet, through that agent of execution, brings life. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24

2. Then there is the fulfillment of the desire for goodness – Vs. 6 - Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

To Hunger and thirst for righteousness; describes a man's relentless pursuit of God's righteous standards, which he can only gain from Christ.

He looks beyond himself for new standards of conduct and embraces God’s strength to obtain what he so desperately desires. Genuine humility, godly sorrow for one’s sin, and meekness leads to the desire to be right with God.

And this righteousness; to be right with God, is attained only through faith in Jesus Christ.

Your blessedness comes from the Blessed One; Jesus, your Savior, the One who blesses.

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. -2 Corinthians 5:21;

It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. - 1 Corinthians 1:30

To gain the righteousness found in Christ, one must have confidence in His gospel and continue to obey the truth or practice righteousness. Thus John can write in our Epistle for today: Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous.-1 John 3:7

Because of His love, The Father not only calls us His children, He actually makes us His children. Saints, in contrast to the world, are supposed to do more than simply ''feel'' love. We act on it, as well. True spiritual fulfillment is given to those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

3. There is mercy for those who are merciful now – Vs. 7 - Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.

Notice, the merciful receive mercy. Mercy is only for the undeserving. You show mercy as you have been shown mercy. To be merciful is that compassion expressed to those around them. Seized by his own unworthiness, the believer in Christ reaches out to others with compassion. Because he too has been forgiven, he cares for the special needs of those around him.

Mercy is demonstrated, in part, by our willingness to forgive others. Because of this forgiveness in Christ. The saints of God forgive. Not merely when it’s the noble thing to do. Not when it’s convenient. And there are eyes upon you.

Not merely seven times. But 70 times 7! This is what Paul teaches when he says, Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. -Ephesians 4:31-32

The merciful show compassion and forgive as Christ has loved and forgiven them. We ask for a pure heart. That we may seek the Lord. And serve His holy purposes. We seek peace through the blood of Christ; the Prince of peace.

The mercy of God is the source of motivation to show mercy toward others. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. -Luke 6:36

Only the merciful will receive mercy. Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Yet mercy triumphs over judgment! For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.-James 2:13

4. There is a vision of God for the pure in heart – Vs.8 - Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. This is the only way in which you can see God.

Pure in heart speaks not of a person's old heart but his new heart. God has given the ability to seek the welfare of others above the desires for self. Refusing to focus on themselves, true saints, sincerely open their heart to what God and others desire.

Pure in Heart means clean, pure of sin, sincere, earnest devotion to God. It is a pure longing for God. Serving Him only.

A pure heart is achieved by the help of God. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. -Acts 15:9

Christians are to be committed to cleansing their hearts (and lives) of sin. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness -1 John 1:9

To see God or maintain fellowship with Him requires purity of heart. As James teaches, Come near to God and he will come near to you -James 4:8

These statements. Of those who are blessed. These proclamations. These declarations. Are not some new kind of new Law given to us.

They are not rules for the righteous. They are rather a description of those who are in Christ.

Saints of God - The reign of the heavens is yours. These assertions describe both who Jesus is and what He gives to all who, by faith, have been incorporated into His family the Church.

You, child, are blessed. The Kingdom of the Heavens is yours! You shall see God. For you are called the sons of God - You belong to Christ.

Words-1,425
Passive Sentences – 9%
Readability – 79.7%
Reading Level – 4.7
For All the Saints copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2203

[2] The list we find here is in the indicative mood, not the imperative.

Friday, October 30, 2020

October 31, 2020— Saturday prior to All Saints

Sunday’s hymn of the day, For All the Saints (LSB 677) is a song of high praise, not to the saints, but by us saints, for the grace of God shown to the saints who have gone before. As they now enjoy eternity with their Lord and Redeemer, so we, too, look forward to that more glorious day, when saints triumphant rise in bright array, and sing Alleluias to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Prayer for joy in life and hope of the resurrection: O Lord, the refuge of every generation, we fade like withered grass as You sweep us away in the sleep of death. Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, be gracious to us for Jesus' sake, and awaken us in the joy of the resurrection to eternal life with Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect for the Feast of All Saint—Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for a blessed death: Almighty God, grant Your unworthy servants Your grace, that in the hour of our death the adversary may not prevail against us but that we may be found worthy of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for blessedness of heaven: Almighty, everlasting God, You gave Your only Son to be a High Priest of good things to come. Grant unto us, Your unworthy servants, to have our share in the company of the blessed for all eternity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for hope of eternal life in Christ: Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

October 28, 2020— Wednesday prior to All Saints

Revelation 7:9–17—This is the vision whence the antiphon for the Introit is drawn. These are the saints who never cease praising God and the Lamb for the salvation which has been accomplished by the Lamb of God having shed His blood for the remission of all our sins and for our salvation.

In the Lord’s Supper, we join with those saints who have gone before, with palm branches in their hands, in singing the Sanctus: ‘Holy Holy, Holy…Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord!’ With those saints, we also partake of the marriage feast of the Lamb which has no end.

The multitude is clad in white, it is waving palm branches, and it is crying hymns of praise in a loud voice. While much of this imagery parallels the Triumphal Entry scene as depicted in the gospels, it should be noted that this multitude certifiably pledges itself to the Lamb. Unlike the multitude in the Triumphal Entry scene that later turns its back on the Messiah, this multitude will remain faithful to the Lamb “forever and ever

On the Feast Day of All Saints, we Christians around the world gather to celebrate the lives of those saints who have gone on before us. We give thanks for those saints living still today. And, we ponder how all of us -- you and me -- are called to live lives of sanctity. This passage reminds us that being a faithful witness -- like the great multitude -- is the baptismal vocation of us all. It also reminds us that when we live out our Christian vocation, we find freedom in the Lamb of God who sustains all of us.[1]

A prayer for joy in the promise of bodily resurrection: Merciful Father and Lord of life, with whom live the spirits of those who depart in the faith, we thank You for the blessings of body and soul that You granted this departed loved one, whose earthly remains we now lay to rest. Above all, we rejoice at Your gracious promise to all Your servants, both living and departed, that we shall be raised from death at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen[2]

[1] https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2182

Monday, October 26, 2020

October 27, 2020— Tuesday prior to All Saints

Psalm 149—A psalm of high praise unto the Lord to be offered up in the assembly of the godly. He has taken pleasure in his people and adorned the humble with salvation. For this, we His saints do not cease to give Him the glory and praise due His name.

This Hymn of Praise divides into two surprising parts that may be seen in this way:

(Vv 1–4) Let us praise God with song

(Vv 5–9) Let us praise God with a sword

The first half invites God’s people to “Sing to the LORD a new song!” because he is both our Maker and our King. This should lead to exuberant worship in which each worshiper plays a part in giving honor to God. In this exhilarating exercise even dance has a place (this is practiced among Orthodox Jews; the movie “Fiddler on the Roof” is a good example of this kind of praise).

The church is given a similar missionary charge, to extend the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth (Matthew 28.18–20). While our power is not military, it is by means of the same Word of God that we engage in this work. Military metaphors are used throughout the New Testament to picture this work:

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete” (2 Corinthians 10.3-6; see also Ephesians 6.13–17).

It is important for us to remember that when Jesus announced his public ministry in Nazareth, he read in the synagogue meeting from the Isaiah scroll:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor” (Isaiah 61.1–2a).

He ended his reading in the middle of verse 2, not reading the remainder of the verse:”…and the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61.2b).

He didn’t finish the sentence not because vengeance is not a part of his commission as the Messiah-King, but because that is part of his second appearance, not his first. He came in humility the first time to “seek and save the lost” (Luke 19.10); he will appear a second time “in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus” (2 Thessalonians 1.8).

It is an honor for all God’s people to be a part of extending his gracious rule into the lives of people all over the world (Psalm 149.9). We do this as our righteous lives and words shine the light of the gospel to both reveal the disfiguring effects of sin in people’s lives and to show them the way to God.[1]

Collect for Psalm 149: Lord, let Israel rejoice in you and acknowledge you as creator and redeemer. In your loving-kindness embrace us now, that we may proclaim the wonderful truths of salvation with your saints in glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [2]

[1] http://psalmreflections.blogspot.com/2010/04/psalm-149.html

Sunday, October 25, 2020

26 October 2020— Monday prior to All Saints

Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; Antiphon, Rev 7:14b—The antiphon is the description of a portion of the vision which the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John received from our Lord Jesus. In it, he sees those saints who have received the beatific vision of God by virtue of their having been baptized, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, that is, Jesus Christ our Savior. This is the blessed existence that awaits all the elect, for which we yearn even while we groan in this vale of tears.

The hymn writer assures us that we are but pilgrims and strangers on this earth. Heaven is our home. St. Paul explains, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body.” -2 Corinthians 4:8-11

The Psalmist concludes, “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” These are the last words the Savior spoke when He died on the cruel cross of Calvary. Jesus committed His life into the safe hands of the Father. He fulfilled the Law for you by living a perfect life. Then, He took your sins as His own and died the death which you deserve. Now, by faith you entrust your life to Him.

The psalmist’s expression of trust death was not in his thought. It was in life. Amidst all its troubles and dangers, he trusted. The Hebrew translation says literally, he deposited as a trust his spirit. Such is the life of the faithful child of God. We commend ourselves into the hands of God. Thus, in the Morning and Evening we simply pray, “Into Thy hands I commend myself, my body and soul and all things. May your Holy Angel (Spirit) watch over me that the evil foe may have no power over me.” Such a bold and powerful prayer is the prayer of faith.

Prayer for Psalm 31: God of kindness and truth, you saved your chosen one, Jesus Christ, and you give your martyrs strength. Watch over your people who come to you now, and strengthen the hearts of those who hope in you, that they may proclaim your saving acts of kindness in the eternal city; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.[1]

All Saints Observed

All Saints (Observed)

Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17

1 John 3:1–3

Matthew 5:1–12

Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ All Saints

Gracious Savior, keep my eyes ever focused on You and Your blessings, which are mine by grace alone. Amen

Observe both future and present tenses...

It is yours now and soon to come. Blessed now are present the rewards future…now and not yet.

They Shall See God

Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

On this All Saints’ Day briefly consider the promise of Jesus that the pure in heart get to see God!

Everyone wants to see God; even unbelievers want to see Him so they can “prove” to themselves He exists. This longing to see God is part of our being, and we will not be satisfied until this happens. To thus behold God in His unveiled splendor is referred to as the Beatific Vision. It is the most blessed, beautiful, wondrous sight ever. Until now we have only beheld the creation, which even in its fallen state has a high degree of splendor, and through it we obtain a veiled picture of God. We have seen nothing beyond this creation, and consequently no one can imagine beholding the Creator! Moses expressed this longing when he asked to behold God’s glory [Ex 33:18]. Though God spoke to Moses as a man speaks to a friend [33:11], yet shortly after this high praise God explained to Moses,…no man can see me and live [33:20]. God was applying this to Moses; not even God’s “friend” could see Him and live.

Why can no man—not even Moses—see God and live? Because no man has a pure heart. Impurity cannot remain in the presence of the Pure and Holy One, thus no one can see God and live. The Scripture associates “the heart” with man’s thinking and his attitude. Every human since the fall of Adam is born with polluted thinking and a rebellious attitude toward God. The prophet Jeremiah bemoans this condition of man: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? [17:9]. All I need do is look into my heart—especially in light of God’s law—and I realize the truth of Jeremiah’s statement; my heart is not pure, it is desperately sick. I cannot see God.

However in this life God allows His people to see Him, but only in a veiled way. God allowed this veiled view of Himself for Moses: So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by. Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen [33:22,23]. God allowed another veiled vision of Himself for Moses and the elders at the foot of Mt. Sinai: …and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. …So they saw God, and they ate and drank [Ex 24:10,11]. As they ate of the peace offering sacrifice, these chosen few “saw God”. So too when we in this life eat of the body and blood of THE peace offering, we in an even greater way “behold God” while we thus commune. But this is not yet the Beatific Vision.

Holy Scripture describes a time when His people will somehow literally behold Him. Saint John wrote: Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is [1 Jn 3:2]. God’s people will thus see Him as He is, not because they have been extra good but because God has made them into saints. A saint is a holy person. There was only one saint who was holy because of His works. This saint, the Holy One of Israel, went to the cross to bear our sins and thus bestow sainthood upon us. Saint Paul marks the point of the bestowal of sainthood: But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God [1 Co 6:11]. This holy washing is none other than Holy Baptism, in which God made each of us saints: sanctified and justified children. God thus gave unto each of us pure hearts. In this life we strive to live as saints; as we behold Christ by faith we strive to love and live for others in the name of Christ. Into eternity we shall enjoy the unfathomable Beatific Vision, for Jesus has promised, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Because of Christ’s cross and empty tomb, we will get to see God in His unveiled glory!

Matthew 5:1

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Matthew 5:2

καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων·

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:3

Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. To be poor is to rely on the mercy of God. These are indicative and the rewards are all passive.

Not blessed are the growing churches. The only command is "rejoice and be glad"

Matthew 5:4

μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who mourn, you are a Christian. You will mourn, but you will be comforted. What do we mourn? As Jesus grieved over Lazarus.

Preach theology of grace as opposed to theology of glory.

Matthew 5:5

μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:6

μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

They will be engorged/enlarged. Their cup will run over for those who hunger after righteousness.

Your blessedness comes from the blessed one who blesses.

Matthew 5:7

μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The merciful receive mercy. Mercy to the deserving is justice. Mercy is only to the undeserving. Show mercy as you have been shown mercy.

The unmerciful serving misrepresented the king who had shown mercy. He acts as if the king still had the debt hanging over them.

Matthew 5:8

μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the clean in heart because they themselves will see God. The only way in which you see God.

Matthew 5:9

μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

Blessed are the ones making peace they will be called God's sons.

Matthew 5:10

μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The ones who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heavens.

Matthew 5:11

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Blessed whenever they reproach you and say all evil against you on account of me.

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Rejoice be glad, your reward is in heaven. In this sameness the prophets were persecuted.

All Saints

All Saints

October 26 - 31, 2020

The Feast of All Saints has been celebrated as such since the ninth century, but its roots are even earlier, in a festival in honor of All Martyrs celebrated in Syria in the mid-fourth century, and in the rededication of the Pantheon in Rome. The Pantheon was originally dedicated as a pagan temple in 27 B.C. to the gods of the seven known planets; it was re-dedicated by Boniface IV in A.D. 610 as a Christian basilica in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and all martyrs.

The Feast of All Saints, therefore, recalls the memories of the faithful departed and the triumph of Christ over all false gods. Being thus a Christological feast, the color of the paraments is white.

After the Reformation, Lutherans continued to observe All Saints’ Day, while rejecting the additional Feast of All Souls the following day because of its unscriptural underpinnings in commemorating the souls in Purgatory who were not yet saints.

Prayer for a blessed death: Almighty God, grant Your unworthy servants Your grace, that in the hour of our death the adversary may not prevail against us but that we may be found worthy of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for blessedness of heaven: Almighty, everlasting God, You gave Your only Son to be a High Priest of good things to come. Grant unto us, Your unworthy servants, to have our share in the company of the blessed for all eternity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for hope of eternal life in Christ: Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for joy in life and hope of the resurrection: O Lord, the refuge of every generation, we fade like withered grass as You sweep us away in the sleep of death. Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, be gracious to us for Jesus' sake, and awaken us in the joy of the resurrection to eternal life with Him who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Monday, 26 October 2020—Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; Antiphon, Revelation 7:14b—The antiphon is the description of a portion of the vision which the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John received from our Lord Jesus. In it, he sees those saints who have received the beatific vision of God by virtue of their having been baptized, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb, that is, Jesus Christ our Savior. This is the blessed existence that awaits all the elect, for which we yearn even while we groan in this vale of tears.

Tuesday, 27 October 2020—Psalm 149—A psalm of high praise unto the Lord to be offered up in the assembly of the godly. He has taken pleasure in his people and adorned the humble with salvation. For this, we His saints do not cease to give Him the glory and praise due His name.

Wednesday, 28 October 2020—Revelation 7:9–17—This is the vision whence the antiphon for the Introit is drawn. These are the saints who never cease praising God and the Lamb for the salvation which has been accomplished by the Lamb of God having shed His blood for the remission of all our sins and for our salvation. In the Lord’s Supper, we join with those saints who have gone before, with palm branches in their hands, in singing the Sanctus: ‘Holy Holy, Holy…Blessed is he who cometh in the name of the Lord!’ With those saints, we also partake of the marriage feast of the Lamb which has no end.

Thursday, 29 October 2020—1 John 3:1–3—What an amazing thing it is to be able to pray the Lord’s Prayer, where we address the Holy and Almighty God as Our Father! This we can do because we are the children of God, as St John tells us in the Epistle reading for Sunday. We are His children because, being baptized into Christ, we are Christ’s, and heirs with Him. By the redemption we have by the blood of Jesus, God has made us His children.

Friday, 30 October 2020—Matthew 5:1–12—The Beatitudes are not some new kind of Law given by a new Lawgiver, Jesus. Rather, they are a description of those who are in Christ. The Beatitudes describe both who Jesus is and what He gives to all who, by faith, have been incorporated into Him. You, dearly baptized, are blessed: the Kingdom of Heaven is yours, you shall see God, you are called sons of God, for you belong to Christ.

Saturday, 31 October 2020—Sunday’s hymn of the day, For All the Saints (LSB 677) is a song of high praise, not to the saints, but by us saints, for the grace of God shown to the saints who have gone before. As they now enjoy eternity with their Lord and Redeemer, so we, too, look forward to that more glorious day, when saints triumphant rise in bright array, and sing Alleluias to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Another prayer for joy in the promise of bodily resurrection: Merciful Father and Lord of life, with whom live the spirits of those who depart in the faith, we thank You for the blessings of body and soul that You granted this departed loved one, whose earthly remains we now lay to rest. Above all, we rejoice at Your gracious promise to all Your servants, both living and departed, that we shall be raised from death at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 Morning Prayer Readings for the coming week:

October 26 39 Samson – Part 2

October 27 40 Ruth

October 28 Chapel

October 29 41 Job –Part 1

October 30 42 Job - Part 2

 Catechism Review: 2nd Article of the Apostles' Creed

Sources:
Prayers from Lutheran Service Book, © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
Historical background adapted from The Lutheran Liturgy by Luther D. Reed, ©1947, Muhlenberg Press, p. 510.
Artwork Image "All Saints" by Ed Riojas, copyright © Higher Things.

Sunday, October 27, 2019

All Saints Observed

All Saints (Observed)

Revelation 7:(2–8) 9–17

1 John 3:1–3

Matthew 5:1–12

Saints Are Blessed in the Eternal Presence of Christ All Saints

Gracious Savior, keep my eyes ever focused on You and Your blessings, which are mine by grace alone. Amen

Observe both future and present tenses...

It is yours now and soon to come. Blessed now are present the rewards future…now and not yet.

Matthew 5:1

Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλους ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος· καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦ προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·

Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

Matthew 5:2

καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦ ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων·

And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

Matthew 5:3

Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of the heavens. To be poor is to rely on the mercy of God. These are indicative and the rewards are all passive.

Not blessed are the growing churches. The only command is "rejoice and be glad"

Matthew 5:4

μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are those who mourn, you are a Christian. You will mourn, but you will be comforted. What do we mourn? As Jesus grieved over Lazarus.

Preach theology of grace as opposed to theology of glory.

Matthew 5:5

μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς, ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσι τὴν γῆν.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 5:6

μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

They will be engorged/enlarged. Their cup will run over for those who hunger after righteousness.

Your blessedness comes from the blessed one who blesses.

Matthew 5:7

μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται

“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

The merciful receive mercy. Mercy to the deserving is justice. Mercy is only to the undeserving. Show mercy as you have been shown mercy.

The unmerciful serving misrepresented the king who had shown mercy. He acts as if the king still had the debt hanging over them.

Matthew 5:8

μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the clean in heart because they themselves will see God. The only way in which you see God.

Matthew 5:9

μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.

Blessed are the ones making peace they will be called God's sons.

Matthew 5:10

μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης, ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

The ones who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heavens.

Matthew 5:11

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.

Blessed whenever they reproach you and say all evil against you on account of me.

Matthew 5:12

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Rejoice be glad, your reward is in heaven. In this sameness the prophets were persecuted.