Readings:
Revelation 7:9-end;
Psalm 34:1-10;
1 John 3:1-3;
Matthew 5:1-12

Collect:
God of holiness,
your glory is proclaimed in every age:
as we rejoice in the faith of your saints,
inspire us to follow their example with boldness and joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Reflection

All Saints’ Day. So many things come together at this time of the year. Perhaps the most emotionally difficult, and yet also the most emotionally complete is our Remembered In Love service. Here we not only remember, we actually name those we love who have died and we hold our grief together before God.

For some, this death happened a long time ago and I suspect they will be among the first to remind us that time does not heal. Yes, time does make the event further back in the past. But healing, that is another matter. At best, we learn to live without the person in our lives and while that does certainly take time, it takes much more than that. It takes tears. It takes effort. It takes care. It takes grief.

In the gospel reading for today, Jesus tells those who would listen that those who mourn or are sorrowful are blessed. Some translations read “Happy are those …”, and when I use this language in public worship, I see people thinking to themselves: “No. I’m not happy. I’m unhappy as I mourn.” Such are the foibles of translation. The word we translate as “blessed” or “happy” may also be read as “fortunate” or “praiseworthy”. Now that’s something different and refers to our love and affection for the person who has died. If we felt little or nothing, just how much grief would we carry? But if we loved the person intimately, as only a child or a spouse or a parent could love, that indeed is a praiseworthy or fortunate love to have shared, and the mourning now is so deep.

When I remember those I love who have died, at this time of the year or by things I read or do with others, sometimes I cry. They are tears of sadness. They are also tears of love and affection which I can no longer express in the way I could before – in conversation, with a gift or a visit. Now I’m offered the blessing of grief, cherishing their memory in a way I could not when that person was alive.

Seems to me grief is an emotion to be cherished. Yes, it is hard, and not one in which we actively engage. More’s the pity, I think, because this grief is an expression of my love and affection for one who is no longer here. So blessed, indeed, are those who mourn, or who are sorrowful, for they will be comforted (Mt 5:4).

Almighty God, 
 you have knit together your chosen people
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son, Christ our Lord.
Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
which you have prepared for those who love you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Barry Lotz