Today we commemorate All Saints Day. A day when we acknowledge to God our thanks for the life that he gives and for the life that he gathers into his presence. It’s hard to know what term to use.
Some people don’t like the term death or dying because it’s so harsh. Others don’t like the term “passing away” because it softens death too much and doesn’t recognise the reality. Others have used terms such as “passing over” seeing death as a doorway from this life into eternity. I used the term “gathered into God’s presence” to signify what death actually is; And the reason I used that term is because Jesus also uses that term to describe what happens. In John 14 he says to the disciples in preparing them for his impending death and their subsequent death: “Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me. My Father’s house has many rooms; I am going there to prepare a place for you.? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
So here Jesus describes our death as him coming to take us to be with him where he is. And what a place that will be as we hear in our reading from the Book of Revelation where St John was given a glimpse of the heavenly worship that is happening now as we speak. John was shown a vision of the presence of God and the heavenly worship that surrounds him. And this is so comforting for us in our grief knowing that the ones that we love are with us because of their and our participation in worship. In our creed we confess that we believe in the communion of saints. In our Holy Communion liturgy we proclaim that we gather with the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven. And so whether we have gathered in our churches – or gathered before our TV or computer screens to participate in worship – this has been no trivial thing we have been doing.
It has been a participation in the heavenly worship which John saw in his vision. And they were not limited to 10 or 20 or 50. They were not restricted to 1 per 4 square metres. Here was a great multitude that no one could count, And there were no border restrictions. No, here were worshippers from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. This is the house of worship that Jesus has prepared for us – the house that has many rooms and no restrictions – no household bubbles because we are all one family as John reminded us in our 2nd reading: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.
The death of a loved one is heartbreaking. But Jesus, in John 14 wants us to trust him: And so he says: “Do not let your heart be troubled. You have put your trust in God, put your trust in Me. And the trust Jesus wants us to have is in when he says: I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
As we look at our Gospel reading it is God’s intention to use heaven as our comfort from the difficulties we go through in this life. This life has not ended up what God truly wants for us because of sin. Sin opened the door in this life to evil as our eyes have been opened to good and evil in a world that God had originally created as very good. And so that opening of our eyes has seen a variety of sad experiences which culminate into death into which God brings comfort:
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
There is no sugar coating death. It is raw – it is devastating – and to say anything that downplays the hurt would be offensive. Even Jesus wept at the death of his dear friend Lazarus. Jesus cried out in distress at his own impending death – take this cup from me. So in no way do we downplay the seriousness of the death of a loved on. But death is the passing from this life into eternal life in heaven. It is Jesus fulfilling his promise to take us to be with him where he is because THAT is what God wants for us which John saw in Revelation 21: Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
The final thing we need to remember is that even if Adam and Eve had not sinned, our life here on earth cannot be compared to what God has prepared for us in Heaven. When God completed his work of creation he saw all that he had created and declared it to be very good. Eternal life is not going to be very good – it’s is going to be perfect. No words can describe the experience that awaits us as Paul discovered in 2 Corinthians when he says he was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell.
As difficult as it is to grieve the loss of a loved one – as difficult as it is to live each and every moment without them in our life – God has promised – blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted and that every tear will be wiped away from our eyes by God himself. And the comforting assurance that there will be no more death in the home that Jesus has prepared for us. I know that my words of assurance to you who are grieving are just words. But God’s words to us are not just words. They are promises. And they are promises from God who is trusted as Jesus says – trust God – trust in Jesus.
Until we are in heaven we will sadly see death from an earthly perspective but John reminds us that the reality is hidden He says: Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed.
And as Paul says to the Colossians: your life is now hidden with Christ in God. But when Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Friends, let me finish this All Saints Day with Jesus promise again to us – words that he spoke to his disciples to prepare them for his own death: Don’t let your hearts be trouble – trust in God – trust also in me, Jesus Christ your Lord and Saviour.
