Feast of All Saints – 3rd November 2013
Coming from the Feast of All Saints we remember Saints have pasts, and sinners have futures, if we can’t accept that fact at this stage of our lives – we can’t really claim to be too bright, can we?
Not matching at times what we say with what we do is a feature of everyone’s life. Not only is this the glaring message of this week-end’s Gospel with Zacchaeus: inconsistent behavior is the flawed hall-mark of all people – particularly those of us who lay claim to a belief in a God of Love.
Saying one thing – and being shown up at times to be behaving as if we don’t believe it at all in the first place ourselves, is the uncomfortable reflection that the mirror of scripture holds up to us.
The ‘Good News’ of the same Scripture/Mirror is that we are still loved for who we are (warts and all) by the God revealed throughout its pages:
‘I came to call sinners,’
‘It’s not the healthy who need the doctor.’
‘Though your sins be as red as crimson I will make them as white as snow.’
‘When you’re heavily burdened and struggling I will give you rest’
to mention but a few examples.
Redemption isn’t just a pious word, it’s a kept promise in a world of broken promises that addresses the inconsistencies, the failures, the brokenness of my humanity with what nothing else can replace, the healing touch of a loving and forgiving God. In a light hearted way the following might serve to highlight that too:
Dear Lord,
so far today am I doing OK?
Because I haven’t gossiped, lost my temper, nor have I been greedy, grumpy, nasty or self indulgent.
haven’t whined, complained, cursed or even eaten chocolate.
I have charged nothing, not a single thing on my credit card today.
But, to be honest, I’ll be getting up and out of bed in a minute – and I think I will really need your help then.