Matthew 5:1-12 - "Mixed Feelings"

All Saints Day November 2, 2008

Pastor Troy Slater, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas

Portions of this sermon were borrowed from a sermon by Rev. Jeff McPike of Trinity Lutheran Church, Urbana, IL

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. .. Well this morning with the turning of our clocks back, we are reminded that we are now right smack in the middle of fall. And as such, it can be a season of mixed feelings. For on the one hand, Fall can lead us to feeling a bit down. After all, we are saying "goodbye" to warm weather and outdoor activities - although you wouldn't know it today! But we have had our first freeze, the birds are flying south, nature is slowly losing much of that which reminds us of life.

But on the other hand, there are reasons for feeling up. I mean the countryside is beautiful with the colorful fall foliage. Plus our thoughts are turning to holiday times - Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years. So there is reason to be happy this time of year, just as there is reason to be a bit down - and thus the "mixed feelings".

But you know, considering all this, it seems rather appropriate that we now celebrate All Saints Day. After all, All Saints Day can certainly be a time of mixed feelings. For on the one hand - as we will do during our prayers this morning - we remember those from our congregation who have become saints in heaven during these past 12 months - those who have died. And for Christians, whenever death is mentioned, there are real mixed feelings. Yes we have our Christian hope. We are grateful that our Christian friends and loved ones are with the Lord as a part of "all the company of heaven." Yes we are grateful that they are not suffering or in pain or lingering or whatever else. But any "good" feelings in this regard are mixed with the pain of grief and loss. That makes All Saints Day a day of mixed feelings. …

Now of course we've got to ask the question here, "What is a saint?" Many of course say a saint is someone who exhibits saintly behavior. Someone like a Mother Teresa for example - because of the way she lived, many would say she was a saint. Martin Luther - because of his untiring work for the Gospel - many would consider him to be a saint. Because of what they've done.

But is that it? Is that how the Bible defines a saint? ... Well, actually not. Actually the way the Bible defines the term, our behavior has nothing to do with becoming a saint. For take the opening verses of Ephesians where St. Paul greets his readers, "To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus." Or in Philippians where he begins, "To all the saints in Christ Jesus". Who's he talking to here? Just the Mother Theresas or the Martin Luthers of Ephesus and Philippi? No, he's referring to all Christians in that place - every last one of them. You see the way that Bible defines the term, all Christians are saints. And that is because the Bible tells us that God makes saints - it's not a result of our behavior but solely a result of His doing. It is His doing at the baptismal font where He washes sinners clean by the blood of the Lamb. It is His doing through His Word of absolution - like He's done with us here this morning - where He declares us forgiven for the sake of Jesus and His cross. A saint is most simply defined as one without sin and when God forgives sin, it is gone "as far as the east is from the west."; a saint is there made. God makes saints. And so being a saint is a gift of God; it's like Ephesians 2 says, "it is by GRACE you have been saved, through faith. And this not of yourselves it is the GIFT of God, not by works so that no one may boast." … Being a saint is a gift of God - a gift that He has even given to you. …

But note that Ephesians 2 doesn't end there. For it continues, "For we were created in Christ Jesus" - in other words - "you have been made a saint in Christ Jesus so that," the reading continues, "so that you may do good works which God has prepared in advance for you to do." .. Did you catch that? .. God has made you a saint - created you in Christ Jesus - so that you may do His work. God has made you a saint, that you may do the work of a saint. But again, that's not how we tend to think of a saint, is it? We tend to reverse the order, don't we? We tend to believe that behavior determines a saint. That's backwards. That backwards for rather it's being made a saint, then determines the behavior. God makes a saint and that then affects the behavior.

And in fact it is this behavior that Jesus describes for us in our Gospel lesson for this morning from Matthew, chapter 5. These beatitudes are description of how saints of God live. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Of course Luther describes being "poor in spirit" this way - daily contrition and repentance. Lamenting our own sin and wretchedness, clinging solely to Christ and His righteousness that He gives - "poor in spirit". Or, to use the language of our confession for this morning, "poor miserable sinners."

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." We don't like to mourn, do we? In fact people often structure their whole lives to avoid sadness of any kind. But as God's saints we mourn over the sin in our lives and the sin in the world. We eagerly await that day of all comfort when God will forever wipe away all our tears. Yes, "blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth," Jesus continues. But we don't like to be meek, do we? We admire the assertive for they are the success stories on the athletic fields and in the business world. After all, nice guys finish last, right? .. But as God's saints, we meekly and humbly know that it is only by God's grace that we have anything - only by God's grace. "Blessed are the meek."

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." But we don't like to hunger and thirst for righteousness. We like to fit in with the crowd and not let our faith set us apart from others. But having been made a saint of God, we know that it's not what the world thinks that matters, it's the Lord's will for our life that does.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God." Instead of being peace makers, we want to stand up for our side, however self-centered our position might be. But as God's saints we humbly pray "Thy will be done O Lord" as we humbly set aside our own interests to do god's will of serving our neighbor.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Instead of being persecuted, we want to be respected and we want our children to be successful in the world's eyes. Perhaps God will call pastors and missionaries out of someone else's family so that we won't have to worry about it or make the sacrifice. Perhaps the Lord will choose someone else to stand up for truth in a world that has everything but. But as God's saints we know that no matter what the world may do to us or our family, by the blood of Jesus, the kingdom of heaven is our eternal home and nothing can take that away.

And so yes, we do have mixed feelings. These beatitudes describe for us the life of God's saints but yet we don't often live up to the description. Mixed feelings. And even though we like to say only good things about loved ones that are already with God in heaven, we have to admit that there were lots of times their lives didn't measure up to that standard either. Once again, mixed feelings.

But again, thankfully, fortunately for you and for me and for those who have gone before us in the faith, fortunately the reason God considers us His saints is solely - only - because of the One who came and perfectly lived out what we cannot do. And that same someone who lived as a perfect saint in every way, who never sinned, who never did anything wrong, he ended up on the wrong side of God's wrath. That' really what the cross is all about. You can even say that there were very strong "mixed feelings" at the cross. For it was there at the cross that the Son of God was tortured and murdered. God's own Son, the only-begotten and BELOVED Son of the Father, crucified. Yet when God the Father saw that same Son whom He loved hanging on the cross, He saw not only His Son whom He loved, but also all the sins of the world which He hated. Mixed feelings as God's beloved Son Jesus became the object of our heavenly Father's judgment against sin. Mixed feelings because Jesus took upon Himself the horror of sin, all of the guilt of sin. "God made him who knew no sin to be sin for us." Mixed feelings.

You know you ever been so mad at someone that you loved? You love them but because they did something to you, you can't look at them without getting mad? Mixed feelings - you love, but also have an intense anger. That’s how it was with God the Father towards His Son. He loved Jesus, but yet He hated all of our sin that Jesus bore. Of course in the end though Jesus was vindicated, wasn’t He? Raised on the thired day. And now, having been washed by the blood of Jesus, you are now considered one of His saints. "God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." By His grace in Jesus we actually are saints in the eyes of the Lord. Saints.

And so mixed feelings today as we celebrate All Saints Day? Yes. When we think about those who have already gone to be with the Lord, whether they will be named in this service or not, whether or not they have been gone from this life one year, five years, 20 years, whatever, we have mixed feelings. We're glad they are in heaven with God, sad they are not here with us. Mixed feelings. Plus, we are pleased that God has chosen to bless even US with the title of being His saints, but yet also sad that we don't live like it. Mixed feelings. But one thing is sure – regardless of our feelings, by His grace, God has made us to be His saints; by His grace God will continue to guide us to live as His saints.

And so a happy All Saints Day to all of you during this season of mixed feelings. Blessings to all of you whom God has already made to be His saints. Amen.