3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4 he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5 And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” ~Revelation 21:3-5
November 1st was All Saints Day, a day to celebrate and remember the lives of those who have gone on in faith. Although it’s the day we celebrate those who have died, those who have gone on to glory, it is also a day that can bring us great sorrow.
When we gather together in worship this Sunday, we will gather to praise God and to witness to our faith as we celebrate the lives that we have lost. Some of you have sent in names of those who have died this year. I know many of you have people you have lost not just this past year but throughout your lifetime; people who you love and miss dearly. Even if they are not named this year, we remember and celebrate their lives too.
We come together in grief, acknowledging our human loss. We weep over the moments they are missing. We weep over those moments they will never have. We weep because we are human, and experience deep pain when someone we love and care for vanishes from our life.
May God grant us grace, that in pain we may find comfort, in sorrow hope, in death resurrection. May we remember that the day will come when all the saints will be gathered around the throne singing, “Hallelujah!” May we remember that the there is indeed a great could of witnesses that surrounds us, encouraging us, and cheering us on as we seek to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.
One of my favorite hymns is one that is often only sung at funerals. It’s number 707 in The United Methodist Hymnal, written by Natalie Sleeth. The third verse to me speaks absolute volumes:
In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity; in our doubt there is believing; in our life, eternity. In our death, a resurrection; at the last, a victory, unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.
Friends, I can see the Kingdom that John describes in Revelation every time we gather together to lift up one another, to care for and nurture one another in grace and forgiveness. I see it every time we join with all the saints as we gather around the Lord’s table. I see it as I hope for your pain to cease.
God is making all things new, and in death there is indeed a great Resurrection!
Comment your thoughts below!
Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole