What comes to your mind when you hear the word "saint"? Mental pictures of men and women long dead whose relics are enshrined in ancient cathedrals? Images of people who appear to be so spiritual that they are exempt from sin? The New Testament gives us another picture. Saints are believers in Jesus Christ made holy by His blood. For that reason the Apostle Paul, for example, writes to "the saints in Corinth" or "To all God's beloved in Rome, called to be saints." In other words, saints are Christians. Saints are in heaven before the throne of the Lamb singing hymns of high doxology in praise of their Redeemer. Saints are here on earth, joined together with "angels, archangels, and the whole company of heaven" praising the same Lord who is adored in heaven.

Whether in heaven or on earth, the saints are not self-made. We were made saints by the Lord whose blood has purchased salvation for us and whose word declares us to holy and blessed. That takes us to the Holy Gospel appointed to be read in the churches on All Saints' Sunday. We know this section of Holy Scriptures as the "Beatitudes," the words of blessing. Martin Franzmann summarizes the thrust of today's Gospel when he writes, "Jesus' beatitudes declare what He is and what He gives." Our Lord Jesus Christ who speaks these words of the Sermon on the Mount is actually speaking about Himself.

Jesus is the One who is poor in spirit, for He is totally and completely dependent on His Father and receives from His Father the kingdom of heaven. Jesus is the One who mourns. He is "well-acquainted with grief," says the Prophet Isaiah. He weeps over Jerusalem, for she does not know her Messiah and He is comforted by the Father who turns His grief into perpetual joy in His resurrection from the dead. The High-born Prince of heaven is not ashamed to humble Himself to be born of a Virgin, coming to us in all lowliness and meekness, gentle and lowly in heart. He rides into Jerusalem as a passenger on a lowly donkey, moving toward Calvary. To Him is given "all authority in heaven and on earth." As the only-begotten Son of the Father, He inherits the earth. This Lord says, "My food is to do the work of him who sent me, and to accomplish His work" (St. John 4:34), and He is thirsty for our salvation. And He is filled, for His death on the cross has won for us the very Righteousness of God. Sent from the heart of the Father, the Son is merciful and He has obtained mercy, not for Himself, but for us who were destitute in our sin. The Son demonstrated the purity of heart as with single-minded obedience He held fast to His Father's word and will when assaulted by satan's temptation in the wilderness and again as He willingly suffered and died under the death sentence that belonged to us. Crucified and risen, He sees His Father's face in glory everlasting. He is the Prince of Peace who makes peace for us by the blood of His cross, reconciling us to His Father so that we are now sons of God. He is persecuted for righteousness' sake and in the shame of that suffering brings His kingdom - the kingdom of heaven - to us sinners. Like the prophets of old, He is reviled and falsely accused. Yet for the joy that is set before Him, He endures the cross so that His reward becomes our reward.

All that the Son of God is, He is for us. His blessedness is our blessedness. This Lord Jesus Christ is the Blessed One who comes in the name of the Lord and, in His cross, He makes us blessed. That is why our Lord says in John l4: "I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." And so in the Book of Revelation it is announced from heaven, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord...that they might rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them" (Rev. l4:13).

And so today, All Saints' Sunday, we are reminded that we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses. We are not walking alone on this pilgrimage to the City whose builder and maker is God. We are saints here on earth and we share in a blessed, sweet communion with those whose rest is won. Some of you come to church on this All Saints Sunday with the memory of a parent, grandparent, or other loved one who died in the faith fresh in your memory. They are at the same table with us today, for there is another side to this altar that the human eye cannot see and sitting at the other side of the Table are all those who have died in the Lord. While here in time and space we eat and drink the Lamb of God's body and blood, they feast at the Marriage Feast of the Lamb in His Kingdom which has no end. Suffering and shame are gone. Tears are wiped away. Their joy is everlasting.

We are one with them. Yes, it is true, to use the words of that majestic hymn which we sang a few minutes ago, "we feebly struggle, they in glory shine." But we are one with them in our Lord Jesus Christ. They were redeemed by His blood and so are we. They were baptized into Christ and so are we. Today we are given a glimpse of the future that awaits us and with that glimpse of the glory that is yet to come, the encouragement to press on, to run the race set before us with all the vigor that the Gospel gives, for God is faithful and He will bring us to His heavenly kingdom. "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus to life everlasting. Amen.