Preacher: Pastor Carrie B. Smith
Matthew 5:1-12 (The Beatitudes)
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
My husband returned home from Egypt a few days ago, bearing gifts to make up for the fact that he missed my birthday last weekend! Among these well-chosen (and much-appreciated) gifts was a piece of papyrus, rolled up in a tube and carried carefully through airport customs, on which was painted an image of St. George, the dragon-slayer.
St. George, as Robert knows very well, is one of my favorite saints. It’s hard to explain what this Lutheran girl finds so appealing about this ancient Arab saint. History—what little history we have about him—records George as probably living in the 3rd century. He was born in Syria and joined Emperor Diocletian’s army. He was a good soldier, but one day Diocletian ordered that all Christian soldiers should be arrested, and all others be required to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. George, who was raised a Christian, refused. In front of the emperor, the court and his fellow soldiers, he loudly proclaimed his faith in Jesus Christ. (I like to think of this as George’s “Luther” moment! “Here I stand…I can do no other!”)
Not wanting to lose a good soldier, Diocletian tried to convert George, offering him money, land and slaves if only he would renounce his faith in Jesus Christ. Nothing worked, so the emperor had no choice but to execute him—which he did, after torturing him in the presence of the empress and Athanasius, both of whom then converted to Christianity.
The historic George, saint and martyr, might be impressive enough, but then…there is the legendary George! You see, images like the one Robert brought for my birthday don’t show him taking a stand before the emperor, as courageous as it was. Instead, they show St. George on a horse, valiantly slaying a fire-breathing dragon, often with a princess in the background. The legend makes for better art than history, don’t you think? Depending on who tells the story, the dragon may represent a pagan cult, an invading army, or the struggle with the evil within ourselves. In Sweden, the princess rescued by George represents the entire kingdom of Sweden. And in Muslim tradition, George is called Al Khader, and is said to have been a close associate of the original twelve disciples.
George is the patron saint of Great Britain and Palestine, of butchers and boy scouts, and his likeness can be found above the doorway of nearly every Christian home in the Holy Land. Now, thanks to my dear husband, you can also find his image hanging near the front door of this Lutheran pastor’s house in Crystal Lake, Illinois.
St. George—Christian, martyr, and dragon-slayer, both historic figure and legendary character—is one of the many saints we honor this All Saints Day. He, along with Peter, James and John, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of our Lord, are with us today at the table, at the font, and in the light of Christ we share.
But not every saint has a halo, and certainly not many are dragon-slayers! In fact, most of the saints we honor this day are regular people, extraordinary only because of their faith in God and their baptism into the one church of Jesus Christ. The names of more than 700 of these saints are written on the quilt hanging behind the pulpit today, and the names of a few were prayed aloud as we began worship today. Countless others are remembered in our hearts—not for their legendary acts of bravery, but for their everyday lives of faith.
One of those everyday saints on my mind and in my heart today is a woman named Iva. Iva was the oldest member of my former congregation, and she died just a few days ago. Iva didn’t have a halo—or if she did, it could have used some polishing! One day, while she was in hospice care, I arrived at her home to bring her communion. As I entered the room, I called out “Iva, how are you doing today?” and she called out in response, “Pastor, I’m just bitchin’!”
On another occasion, her daughter phoned me to say the end was near, and I should hurry over quickly to see her. I threw on my collar, grabbed a Bible and raced over to her house. I found the family gathered around her bed. As I led them all in prayer, Iva was silent. But when I said, “Amen”, she opened her eyes, looked straight at me and said, “Oops, Pastor, I guess it was a false alarm.” That was more than six months ago!
Just before I finished my call at the church where Iva had been a lifelong member, I attended her 98th birthday party. Her quilting friends arranged a party around her hospice bed, complete with cake and ice cream and chicken salad. It was a lovely day—but Iva didn’t miss the opportunity to comment that “I guess you just can’t find good coffee around here anymore.”
Iva was colorful and spunky. She outlived two husbands, a son, a grandson, and six siblings. When she started attending Sunday School, she rode there on horseback. In her last years, she received the church newsletter by email. Iva wasn’t a dragon-slayer, but she taught me about the importance of speaking your mind, embracing change with grace and courage, and living each day with good humor. On this All Saints Day, I give thanks to God for Iva—teacher, farmer, quilter, and saint.
In his book “Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals”, pastor and author Shane Claiborne writes, “Since its earliest centuries, the church has set aside a day to remember the great cloud of witnesses who have gone before us in the faith, stretching across the centuries and around the globe. However hard it might seem to follow the way of Jesus in our own time and place, this is a day to remember that we may be crazy, but we’re not alone.” (p. 504)
We are not alone, sisters and brothers! The candles around the altar today remind us that our beloved saints of all times and places are at the table with us, too—St. George and Iva among them. And when we pour the water into the font today to baptize Kayla and Lucas, we are assured that through water and the Word they are joined with us in the communion of saints—part of the one faith, the one church, and the one body, through the death and resurrection of the one Lord, Jesus Christ. We are not alone! Amen!
And we need to know we aren’t alone, fellow saints, because following Jesus can be difficult. Some days, we need to borrow the courage, the wisdom, and the experience of the saints who have gone before us. Some days, being a Christian can seem like a crazy thing to do, and we need to know we aren’t the first to try it!
When Jesus sat down on the mountain, he taught his disciples just how hard the path would be, but he also told them how blessed they would be along the way. In the few short verses we know as “the Beatitudes,” he taught his disciples to have hope in times of trial, to see adversity as opportunity, and to resist evil at all cost. Blessed are you, says Jesus—no matter what!
Blessed are you, even when your spirit is lacking, when your grief is overwhelming, or when you feel insignificant in this world. In Christ, you will be healed!
Blessed are you, when your sense of justice is frustrated at every turn and when your soul cries out for what is right. In Christ, the valleys will be lifted up and every mountain and hill will be made low!
Blessed are you when you find opportunities to be merciful, to purify your heart, and to make peace. Christ is with you!
And blessed are you, when you, like St. George, are persecuted for your faith, are challenged in your beliefs, and are attacked for where you stand. With Luther and with George, know that your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the saints who were before you. On this All Saints Day, know that you are not alone!
Let us pray…
Holy God, join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age, that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the freedom and hope of Your Son. Through Him, with Him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
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