Glimpsing the New Earth
Can be listened to here
Gate Pa – 2015
All Saints and All Souls
Readings:
Psalm
Psalm
24:1-6
First
Reading: Wisdom
3:1-9
Second
Reading: Rev
21:1-6
Gospel:
John
11:32-44
What I want to say:
Use the reading from Revelation to explore All
Saints and ask how do we glimpse the Kingdom come in their lives, and how do
they inspire us to look for the new heaven and new earth in the here and now.
On the back of that, how did we see
glimpses of the new heaven and new earth in our loved ones and how might
we honour their memory in how we live our lives now?
What I want to
happen:
People to reflect on how they
honour the memory both of their favourite saints and loved ones.
The Sermon
1. Introduction:
Today is the day after All Hallows Eve
– better known as Halloween
so that makes today All Hallows or All
Saints
day where Christians for at least last
1200 years remembered all saints.
chance to reflect again on who are the
saints that inspires us
what
is it about them that inspires us
what
was we seek to emulate them
2. Who are the saints?
so
who are saints
For
those in the church, what distinguishes saints is their spiritual curiosity,
their encounter with a divine God, and the radical love they went on to live
because of it. By claiming the faith, we’re claiming a kinship with each of
those heroes who have gone before, and saying we’re in this together, too.[1]
catholic church has this system where name
saints as saints
church
recognises that these people have entered heaven as saints
- Servant of God: As soon as the person is accepted for consideration, she’s called a Servant of God.
- Venerable: After the Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints determines that the servant of God lived a life of heroic virtue, she is granted the title of venerable. Heroic virtue doesn’t mean a person was perfect or sinless, but that she worked aggressively to improve herself spiritually and never gave up trying to be better and grow in holiness.
- Blessed: After the Church establishes one miracle, the venerable person’s cause is presented to the pope to see whether he deems her worthy of being called blessed. This step is called beatification and is the next-to-last step.
- *Saint: Another miracle and the blessed person’s cause is presented to the pope again for his judgment. If he determines that the evidence is clear and that contrary reports aren’t credible, he may initiate the canonization procedure. If all goes well, the candidate is publicly recognized as a saint.
observed Pope in this process
us Anglicans tend be little more
casual
don’t
bestow any these titles on anyone
all
who die in faith are saints
do
remember particular people
each Anglican Province has calendar of
saints
some
of whom are common – come from Book of Common Prayer
some
particular to that part of the world
so our calendar has common ones
remembers people who important to
story of church in this land
missionaries
– European and Maori
significant
figures like bishops
Mother
Suzanne Aubert – founder of Sisters of Compassion
saw
film about a couple years ago
get
on this calendar
name
taken to General Synod – debated and added to cannon – or law which governs how
this all works
at our mid-week service I will tell
outline of one people on or near that day.
In this place we have number people we
could remember today
George – named after
Henare Wiremu Taratoa
Heni Te Kirikaramu
Tarore and father Ngakaku – primary
missionary for Bay of Plenty
to name a few
all whom inspire us in their different
ways?
so – who are your favourite saints?
what
is so special about themj
what
inspires you about them?
3. Bible Passages – Gospel and Revelations
Interesting readings set down for
today
these are chosen for All Saints
notice temporarily left Hebrews and
Mark
instead
heard story raising Lazarus from John
(which
is not story about resurrection but of temporary restoration of life)
Book
of Revelation
paints this fascinating and subversive
picture of end time
with basic message
in
face of all Rome (Babylon) does to us
remember
– God will win
God’s
reign will come
we
will be part of it
where will God’s reign be
heaven?
out
there – somewhere else?
or, as writer of Revelation says –
here
right here
this is the place
heaven and earth – this earth
will be renewed
what does that mean for us on All
Saints
are
they pointing us to a God who is waiting for us in heaven
or
are the pointing us to God who is renewing this earth around us?
suggest it si the latter
they
pointing us to God who is renewing this earth around us
they
are people that help us see what that renewed earth will look like
they
are the ones who help us glimpse God’s hopes for this earth
they invite us to join in that work
trusting that God will finish the job
what are your favourite saints
inviting you to?
4. All Souls
In our calendar tomorrow is All Souls
day we remember all who have died
especially
those died faith
as we gather this morning
provides opportunity to remember, celebrate and honour those we
have loved and known
who have died over the last year.
remember and give thanks for all who
helped shape us to be who we are today
wonder
how these people we remember today
helped
us see God who is renewing this earth around us
glimpse
God’s hopes for this earth
5. We Remember
today is a day to give thanks and
remember
honouring those gone
before us
recognise the influence they have
had on our lives
acknowledge their role in shaping
who we are
acknowledge
how helped us see God at work
Also a day ask how we might honour
them in how we live our lives
others
might see God at work through us
Invite us take some time in silence to
remember
give thanks
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