Nov 3, 2002

Mindekirken
November 3, 2002

All Saints’ Day

Pr. Jens Arne Dale

All Saints’ Day is a day with special traditions and strong feelings. My thoughts go back to Gjøvik today. I’m thinking of dear faces with sad eyes. Many people choose to walk on frozen grass and dead leaves in the cemetery by Lake Mjøsa. They may stop by the grave of a beloved person, bow down and light a candle. The flame lights a little bit, all over is the enormous blue-gray November sky. It’s like a little hope that’s shining towards the great shadows of grief. If you look over the cemetery there are several candles lit, others have also found the way to the graves of their dear ones. It’s a feeling of quietness, sadness and memories at the cemetery this day. To some, this is a day when it is good to be alone with one’s thoughts. Others feel it’s good to put words to their feelings and experience the care of fellowship.

Here at Mindekirken we have specially invited those of you who have lost dear ones in the last year who were members here. A candle is lit for each one of them and for all of us a candle is lit representing all our loved ones who have passed away. The custom of lighting a candle may tell something about longing, deep respect and warm gratefulness for good memories. The light should also be a symbol of our prayers to God. November 2 used to be All Souls’ Day and November 1 All Saints Day. This day should contain memories and sorrow, but the hymns, prayers and texts should also help us to lift up our sight. They are not a proclamation of death and sorrow, but a comfort and hope for life everlasting. We have read from the Sermon on the Mount and heard how Jesus calls people blessed.

On our kitchen counter we have a TV set that constantly praises the blessed who can buy new things: cars, furniture, clothes, etc. Blessed are those who have good health, security with good insurance, money and goods. Our culture has a lot of voices calling "people who have everything" blessed.

Jesus is different. He calls blessed, those who lack the most

Quite the opposite of the ideals of our time, Jesus paints a picture of poor people and calls them blessed. How can he do that? It’s because it’s where something’s lacking, that he may fill everything. Jesus himself is the great difference.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. It’s a grief to lose a spouse, a father or mother, or one’s own child. Some experience that time heals every wound, but not everyone feels that. To some the grief is a companion all through life.

Maybe you experience grief from what is happening in the world today. Terrorist attacks, the threat of war, people suffering in poverty, diseases, and hunger. Isn’t it a grief that the world isn’t a peaceful place? Isn’t it a grief that people are exposed to abuse of many kinds, and maybe have their lives damaged?

Isn’t it a grief when earth, air and water are destroyed by pollution and the resources of the earth are damaged by people’s greed and ignorance?

Maybe we feel grief when our own health is weakened, when we feel how we are falling short morally when it comes to doing good towards others. Have you felt the grief of your own sin?

Who can comfort?? Jesus can. He came to share our sorrows. He came to fight on the side of life against all damaging powers. He wanted that the world he himself had made should be a better place for all people. And at the same time, comfort is even more radical. The old Simeon in the temple got to hold the baby Jesus in his arms and thanked God because he had gotten to see the time that should come with comfort to Israel. This was the comfort Jesus shared when he gave the forgiveness of God to people who struggled with their sin. The healing of Jesus is an appetizer for the time when the whole creation shall be reborn. The comfort is the new heaven and the new earth where everything is going to be put in order.

We’ll celebrate communion today. At this meal, we get a share in the comfort of the one who was crucified and rose for us. It points forward to the big banquet in the kingdom of God. We’re singing about the great white flock. One day we shall meet those who went before us, and we ourselves shall be given immortality. Jesus is our hope. Therefore he can say blessed are those who lack everything.

The first four blessings are about people who lack everything. The last four blessings are about people who give others a glimpse of God. Blessed are

- the merciful

This tells us something about what is of greatest value in life, to show mercy, be pure, make peace. I remember General Schwarzkopf, who was Chief Commander of the allied forces during the Gulf War, was asked if he had some special sources of inspiration. He answered with the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi : "Lord, make me an instrument of your peace." Today we pray that God will take in his hand the ones who have the big responsibility of peace in the world. To make peace, justice and freedom in our painful world is a call from him who created all men as equals. Sometimes it looks like the choice is between two evils. Can a war be defended because it prevents something which is even worse? At a time when they again speak about war on Iraq, it has to be our prayer that a new way to safety, justice and peace may be found. I remember the UN’s General Secretary, Koffi Annan came to Oslo to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. "Sometimes," he said, " I’m awake very early in the morning. Then my thoughts go to places around the world where there is no peace. And then I pray to God that he must make peace. Blessed are the peace makers, for they will be called the children of God.

Glory be to God, the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. Amen

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