Today's Sermon

 

"Love God, Serve God"

 

Isaiah 1:11-17  
What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the Lord; I have had enough of burnt-offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; I do not delight in the blood of bulls, or of lambs, or of goats. When you come to appear before me, who asked this from your hand? Trample my courts no more; bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation - I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity. Your new moons and your appointed festivals my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you stretch out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.

Luke 19:1-10
Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, “He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.” Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.” Then Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.”

 

One of the first songs I remember learning in the children’s choir at the church where I grew up was, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God.”  I don’t know what about it captured my fancy – perhaps the fun melody, or the images of all the people who are saints. As I sing it today, you can find it in our hymnal at #730 if you want to sing or follow along ...

I have been singing this song this week because today we celebrate All Saints Sunday.  This song helps to remind me of the depth and breadth and variety of saints in my own life.  People, both living and dead, who – as the song says – have loved their Lord so dear, so dear.  This song is a good reminder that saints can be pretty much anyone – the saints of God are just folk like me – folk who serve and live for the God they love and know.

In the Protestant tradition, a saint – in its most basic sense – is a “holy one.”  Someone set apart for God.  Spoiler alert … that is each and every one of us.  In his New Testament letters, the apostle Paul often refers to the recipients of those letters as saints.  Even those who were having significant moral or theological struggles were still, in Paul’s mind, saints – because even through their difficulties, they were continuing to do their best to love God and to follow Jesus.

I love that one of the lectionary readings for today is the story of Zacchaeus.  This is a man who, we can assume, has not led a very saintly life. He is a tax collector, which means he was working for the hated Roman government, collecting not only the prescribed taxes from the people, but likely a little something extra for himself. Jesus comes through town, and Zacchaeus is desperate to catch a glimpse of him.  So desperate, in fact, that he climbs a tree just to be able to see Jesus pass by.  Jesus stops in front of that very tree, looks up at Zacchaeus, and invites himself over to Zacchaeus’ house.  Zacchaeus was happy to welcome Jesus, and he then promises to give half of his possessions to the poor and to pay back times four anyone he has defrauded.

This story is filled with interesting moments, but my favorite part is what Jesus does.  Or, more accurately, what he does not do. Jesus doesn’t perform a physical healing.  He doesn’t walk on water.  He doesn’t feed the multitudes with almost no food.  He doesn’t do anything particularly miraculous or awe-inspiring. All he does is offer to spend some time with Zacchaeus.  And that simple offer is life-changing for Zacchaeus.  All it took is someone noticing him.  Someone calling him by name.  Someone wanting to get to know him better. I would like to think that offer is also life-changing for those who witness the exchange – the ones who grumble about Jesus spending time with a sinner.  I hope that Jesus’ offer opened their eyes to the expansiveness of God’s love.

It can be easy to think that we need to do something big and bold and amazing to make a difference in the world or in someone’s life or to serve God.  But Jesus shows us that just isn’t the case.  “Zacchaeus, I must stay at your house today.”  It’s as simple as that.  An offer to spend time with someone.  Recognizing their humanity.  Being kind.  These are the things that saints do.  The quote by St. Clare of Assisi on your bulletin cover captures it well.  “Love God, serve God; everything is in that.”

The passage we heard from the prophet Isaiah offers a very similar message.  God is not a fan of the fancy offerings the people are making. God does not want the big, snazzy assemblies and festivals.  In fact, they have become a burden to God.  What does God ask of the people instead?  “Learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”  Look out for one another.  Care for one another.  Be kind. I don’t need your grand gestures, says God.  I need you to lift up the oppressed through small acts of attention and justice and love. Love God, serve God; everything is in that.

In invite you to think about the saints in your own life – those who have made an impact in your faith journey.  What stands out about them?  I’m guessing, for most saints who come to mind, it is simple acts of kindness.  Or perhaps a quiet, consistent faith shown in word and deed.  You might have witnessed some big, miraculous moments in your life, but I would guess that most of your saints were not flashy at all.

One of our All Saints Day traditions at Westminster is to remember and honor those in our lives who have died in the past year.  We certainly lost some saints from the Westminster congregation this year. Saints who embodied their faith day in and day out.  Saints who didn’t need or even want to make a splash, but who certainly showed us what it meant to be a “holy one.”

I think of Karen Arnett, who dedicated her life to preschool children, both here at the church and in her working life.  Bill Shoemaker, who made sure to bring joy to your day with an emailed joke or pun and shared his love of music as part of our choir.  Jeremy Slavitz, who was a self-described nerd when being a nerd wasn’t cool … and who made it OK for others to also not fit into the typical high school cool-kid stereotype.  Pat Herve, whose house was a place where so many of the neighborhood children felt welcomed and loved.  Peter Wuertz, who made anyone who entered this church building on a Sunday morning feel valued and included.

I could say so much more about each one of those saints, but you get the point.  Each one of them is a shining example of God’s welcoming and inclusive love just by how they lived their lives.  I can imagine each one of them looking up into that tree and offering to spend some time with that despised tax collector.  Love God, serve God; everything is in that.

When I think of these Westminster saints, I think about the lyrics of the song I started with.  “For the saints of God are just folk like me …” I sure hope I am like them.  I hope I embody God’s love in the constant and consistent way they did.  It certainly is wonderful to have these saintly examples to which I can aspire. 

I know that many of you have had other saints in your life who died this past year.  We are going to take some time to honor and remember each of them today.  Staring on this side of the sanctuary, I will invite you to simply state the name of the saint that is on your heart today.  After each name, we will ring the chime.  I will start with the names of our Westminster saints who died this year ...

It feels a little artificial to name only those who have died in the last year.  Certainly, grief continues beyond a year.  Certainly, people who died many years ago continue to influence and impact our lives.  I invite us now into a time of prayer as we remember and give thanks for more of the saints who are and have been meaningful to us.  I will offer a variety of prayer prompts, followed by moments of silence for you to offer your own prayers for the saints in your life in the quiet of your heart.

Holy One, who called all us into life,
We thank you this day for the saints who have shown us your way.

Abraham and Sarah heard your call and ventured to new places, even when it was difficult.
We offer thanks for the saints in our lives who have helped us to hear and respond to your call. (Pause)

Miriam and Moses danced and led your people from suffering toward a new promise.
We offer thanks for the saints in our lives who have inspired us to care for others. (Pause)

Deborah fought, Samuel prayed and they led in different ways.
We offer thanks for the saints in our lives who have offered inspirational leadership and guidance. (Pause)

Amos spoke and Esther stood tall for the sake of justice.
We offer thanks for the saints in our lives who have moved us to work for justice. (Pause)

Peter and Paul, Magdalene and Lydia, and saints through the ages have chosen to love and serve you.
We offer thanks for the saints in our lives who have loved and served you. (Pause)

Holy one, we offer thanks for all of the saints in our lives.  May we love and serve you just as they did.

“And there’s not any reason, no, not the least, why I shouldn’t be one too.” Amen.[i] 

 

[i]Prayer adapted from Rev. Richard J. Hull.