Lutheran Church of the Resurrection

(This sermon was preached in Bangkok, Thailand)

This is the Last Sunday of the Church's Year. The Christian Church keeps time according to the life of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Our life revolves around His life and so our time revolves around His life too.

I find it a bit of an irony to have the opportunity to share the Word of God with you on the Last Sunday of the Church Year. Ironic, because I've just spent the last two weeks, here and in Cambodia very focused on teaching about the creation of the world and the beginning of time. In the beginning, God created the whole world and all that is in it and He made man in His image to rule over it with His love and care.

But today, our focus is on the end of time. It is a time of judgment. "How have you done with what God has given to you to manage as His stewards?" "How have you cared for what He has entrusted into your care?" "Have you been good and faithful stewards of God with all that He has given you dominion over?" The time for judgment has come. Will you stand in the judgment? Or will you be found to fall short of the glory of God? (more…)

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A bit of church history is in order before we begin here, just to set the record straight about what it is that our attention is directed to here this morning. There is evidence that as early as the 4th century AD, the Church established November 1st as a day to give thanks to God for those who were martyred for the Christian faith. November 1st became known as "All Saints Day," and on that day the Church, in its worship and prayers, commemorated the martyrs of the faith.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the privilege of being martyred for the faith. Most have the more ordinary, but no less blessed privilege of living and dying, what we might call a normal life and a natural death, in the faith given them in their baptism. In the 11th century AD, the Church marked November 2nd as a day of commemoration and thanksgiving to God for all the faithful who have departed this life in faith for the more glorious life and who now enjoy what all we Christians on earth still await – the beatific vision. November 2nd became known as "All Souls Day" on the Christian calendar.

With that said, seems like what we have been calling, "All Saints Day" is more like what the Church had in mind when it established "All Souls Day." None of these names whom we have named died because of their faith in Jesus Christ. (more…)