All Saints

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO MOURN

Matt.5.1-12 (also Rev. 7.9-17, I Jn. 3.1-3)

It may seem strange that this Service, in which we remember those who have died and to which we invite those who have been bereaved, can be called a celebration, even if we think of the celebration as being a thanksgiving for that person’s life.

The emotion we experience in bereavement is hardly celebratory.  It may also be equally strange if you think of the text I have chosen this morning: ‘Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted’, especially when the word ‘Blessed’ can be translated ‘Happy’ – ‘Happy are those who mourn’.

What is going on here?  A celebration service for the bereaved and those who mourn will be happy.  Both of these appear to be a contradiction of all that we know about the loss of those we love, and who no longer share with us the life we used to have together; the pain of grief.

We feel that awful void in the absence of someone we used to be able to talk to, to touch, to do things together but, as Christians; we believe that there is much more to life than just the physical expressions of togetherness.  There is deep spiritual bond that can never be broken.  If there is one thing I strongly commend to all married couples and close friends it is to strengthen, over the years, the spiritual bond between each other – pray together, pray for each other, read the bible together, talk of spiritual things together, worship together.

That is the huge difference between those who are Christians and believe in eternal life and those who say there is no life after death; nothing at all other than nice memories.

The comfort we believe is given to those who mourn is more than the comfort we experience in being consoled. It is the strengthening we have in knowing the spirit within never dies.  That’s the real meaning of the word ‘comfort’ – ‘com’ meaning with, and ‘forte’ meaning strength.

I don’t celebrate the absence of my loved ones, but I do celebrate that they have an eternal spirit given through their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, and they will never die.  And that strengthens me.  It can be said by anyone who has this faith - “When I die do not believe it because I shall be more alive than ever”.

Of course we know very little about what actually happens after death.  John knew that and in the small portion of his letter that we heard this morning he says ‘what we will be has not yet been made known’, but he does affirm that we who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are children of God.    You will remember that in his gospel John tells of Jesus’ assertion, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me”.  That’s all you need to know.  Yes we may speculate on aspects of life after death but trusting God should be enough.

Even if there is little we know about life after death, John did have a vision of what heaven is going to be like.  He describes it in the Book of Revelation, again as we heard this morning.  I won’t read all of it again, but the words I especially love are at the end of verse 17: ‘And God will wipe every tear from their eyes’.  No more tears of pain and suffering; no more tears of heart-breaking grief; no more tears of longing.  Simply no more tears.

Now do you see why we can call this Service a Celebration?  Yes there will still be tears and suffering here and now, but just think of what we have to look forward to, and that must surely strengthen us.

Tomorrow is Halloween.  Its original intention was the eve of All Hallows Day – All Saints Day, but it has been hijacked by secular celebrations that are, at best, devoid of meaning and, at worst, dangerously close to the world of the occult.  Have nothing to do with it.

 Michael Perham in his book on Pastoral Liturgy writes this:

‘The Church needs to counter a culture of ghosts, witches and broomsticks with its own celebration of the good purposes of God, the communion of saints and the promise of eternal life’, and that is exactly what we are doing this morning.  It is not a celebration service for the permanent dead but for the eternally living.

If you are suffering the pain of bereavement, or perhaps anticipating the grief of loss, we will be alongside you in the presence of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, giving you strengthening comfort, but also pointing you to the skies, and to the day when heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee.

In the Name of Christ, Amen.