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Sermon November 1, 2020
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers,
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
All Saints Day Year A
http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/HolyDays/AAllSaints_RCL.html
Audio only: /documents/November_1__2020_Audio_ONLY_
Video: https://youtu.be/ux7EcGZJ6_k
They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’ Revelation 7:16-17
I love this vision from the book of Revelation. Scholars agree Revelation is not necessarily the easiest book to read or to understand. It is apocalyptic literature. The writer is writing for people who are being persecuted for their faith in God and Jesus Christ. The vision is of a different world…a new world. Yes, things might be challenging and hard and difficult, especially when it comes to living their faith. Yet, the joys that there are for doing so are amazing.
We get this vision of people from every nation, every tribe, really the whole world, praising God and being led by Jesus the lamb…the shepherd. It is a vision of the whole human family gathered together as one…united.
In this vision, everyone has what they need. There is no hunger. There is no thirst to assuage. There is no scorching heat. Whatever sorrow or grief there is, is wiped away by God.
Many of us associate this vision with heaven or the place where those we love but see no more, are. We are comforted by this. They are with a multitude from the whole world. They are singing and praising God. They are victorious, waving their palms. Anything that troubled them during their time on this earth, is gone. They suffer no more.
When you hear this passage, who comes to mind for you? Who are those who taught you in the faith? Who are those who loved and cared for you and who have died?
Today we are surrounded by them. We have photos and mementos in our windows here and at our homes. In this church we are surrounded by people we do not even know. The plaques in the church telling us only a little bit and not even representing the numbers of people who have prayed and worshiped in this space for over 130 years.
And our readings today are from ancient writings thousands of years old.
A great cloud of witnesses surrounds us.
One of my favorite songs when I consider the cloud of witnesses who have blessed me, is They are Falling All Around Me by Bernice Johnson Reagon. The song speaks of the sorrow of learning that a beloved person has died…of the heaviness of their death. The song also reminds us that those who have died, now live through us. We are the living cloud of witnesses, living in the legacy of those who have gone before and creating the legacy for those who will come after us.
Take a listen:
They Are Falling All Around Me by Bernice Johnson Reagon
SongTalk Publishing Co. (BMI)
They are falling all around me
They are falling all around me
They are falling all around me
The strongest leaves of my tree
Every paper brings the news that
Every paper brings the news that
Every paper brings the news that
The teachers of my sound are movin' on
Death it comes and rests so heavy
Death it comes and rests so heavy
Death comes and rests so heavy
Your face I'll never see no more
But you're not really going to leave me
You're not really going to leave me
You're not really going to leave me
It is your path I walk
It is your song I sing
It is your load I take on
It is your air that I breathe
It's the record you set
That makes me go on
It's your strength that helps me stand
You're not really
You're not really going to leave me
And I have tried to sing my song right
I have tried to sing my song right
I will try to sing my song right
Be sure to let me hear from you
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyO5BYPe1x4
Amen
