The Commemoration of All Saints (Observed)

 The Commemoration of All Saints (Obs.) – November 7, 2021

Psalm 31; Revelation 7:9-17; 1 John 3:1-3

St. Matthew 5:1-12

In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The “Church Triumphant” is a term which refers to the saints in glory. They are the Christians who have come out of the great tribulation, who rest from their labors, who are before the throne of God day and night, who neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore. The sun does not strike them, nor any heat, and God has wiped away every tear from their eyes. At this moment, the Church Triumphant are the Christians who are gathered with angels and archangels in the eternal worship of the Lamb seated on the throne. The Church Triumphant have shed their sin-stained rages and put on the white robes won for them by the death of Jesus.

The “Church Militant” refers to the Christians on this side of glory. We are the Church Militant, who are amid the great tribulation, who struggle against our own sin, who struggle against the sinful world seeking to claim our souls for hell, who must cling to the Word of God as a sure and certain promise of eternity, who receive the Body and Blood of Jesus with the eyes of faith but whose physical eyes see only through a mirror dimly. Our white robes were won on the cross and given to us in Holy Baptism, but we must await to don them until our own transition into the Church Triumphant.

These terms, Church Militant and Church Triumphant, are very helpful. Militant reminds us that on this side of glory we are never without a struggle. The Church is continually in battle. Individuals must daily fight against sin – your own and the sins of others against you. As the Body of Christ, the Church Militant must daily fight against false doctrine, against the sinful world, and against the temptations seeking to snatch the sheep from the flock.

Triumphant reminds us that the war is already won. Even when there are days where sin wins the battle, the war is already ours. Christ has held the battlefield and won the victory on our behalf. When Christ returns, there will only be the Church Triumphant. Suffering, temptation, and struggle will cease. War will cease. Spiritual war will cease. The Final Judgment is final and will pronounce the Church Triumphant.

Do not be confused, however. There are not two different Churches. Militant and Triumphant are two different battalions in the same Church. The Church Militant and the Church Triumphant are still one Body and Christ is our head. The Church Triumphant, those Christian whose body’s have been committed to the earth and whose souls enjoy the nearer presence of Christ, are not asleep nor transfixed in a zombie-like state of staring at Jesus. They are alive and active. They are singing the praises of Jesus, praying to him, and praying for you. According to the Revelation to St. John, they are at least aware of the passing of time on earth if not aware to some extent of the events on earth.[1]

According to St. Paul, these same saints are gathered with us. “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”[2] St. Paul does not limit this surrounding of the great cloud of witnesses only to the worship service. He seems to indicate that the saints in glory are present with the saints on earth, even if the awareness of one another is only passing.

That said, the Church Militant and Church Triumphant are closest as we worship the Lamb on the Throne together. The veil between the sides of glory is thinnest during the divine service, which is how we can say, “with angels and archangels, and all the company of heaven.” What’s more, the Church Triumphant is not joining us in an earthly song. God would never be so cruel as to ask the saints in glory to condescend to a worship created in the imagination of man.

Rather, the Church Militant is exalted to join the Church Triumphant in her song. We sing the song of heaven, “Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Sabbaoth!” This is the song of the Holy Angels and the saints in glory. We are given to sing the eternal words of the heavenly worship each Sunday as we prepare to feast on the Body and Blood of the Eternal Word. Blessed are we who have inherited the Kingdom of God, we sons and daughters of the King.

 The distinction of the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant, which are simultaneously united in the Eternal Body of Christ, should help us to understand the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. This is not a checklist for getting into heaven. It is not a menu of the rewards for specific deeds. The Beatitudes are a description of Christ and the life of Christians.

Each of the Beatitudes is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Christ is purely poor in spirit, descending into our mortal flesh. Christ truly mourns the sin of the world and condemnation of the wicked yet is comforted by the Father, the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Angels. Christ humbled himself to born of a virgin. Christ hungers and thirsts for your righteousness. Christ is merciful to forgive your sins by dying your death. Christ is truly pure in heart and has seen the Father face to face from all eternity. Christ makes eternal peace between God and man. Christ was persecuted for the sake of your righteousness, and was reviled beyond any contempt shown for man. Christ ultimately fulfills each of the Beatitudes.

Jesus also spoke these words to his disciples. He spoke them to the Church Militant. He is speaking them to you today. But again, they are not a list of deeds you must do. Even though they seem conditional, each of the Beatitudes is a statement of fact. If I said, “If you have a beard, you shall be a man,” I am not saying you must grow a beard to become a man. I’m also not saying everyone without a beard is not a man. What I am saying is that if you have a beard, you are certainly a man.

The Beatitudes work the same way. Those who mourn are certainly blessed, because they are certainly comforted. Only Christians can mourn in this way. Only Christians know the eternal consequences of sin and death. Only Christians know the finality of this world and the eternity of the next. A pagan can console themselves that grandpa has become food for a tree and sitting under that tree somehow brings you closer to his spirit. A Christian knows this is a lie. A Christian knows that grandpa’s body has returned to dust, as God promised it would, and his soul is residing in his eternal home – the righteous in bliss and the unrighteous in torment. Therefore, a Christian mourns that sin has caused this separation between him and his grandpa at least until the Resurrection.

Only Christians can truly be comforted. Only Christians know that this world is not eternal. Only Christians know with certainty that there is life after this world, and it is without pain, suffering, tears, and sadness for all who believe. The complete bliss of heaven is unimaginable and yet the Christian is comforted by the knowledge of the truth. This knowledge only comes from the presence of the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. Christ promised to send his Spirit, the Comforter, to be with the Church throughout her time on earth. The Church Militant finds life in the Holy Ghost, who sustains, blesses, and sanctifies the whole Church on earth.

The pagan must endure doubt. The pagan cannot be certain of what he will face after death. The atheist believes there is no life after death but cannot answer what will become of his consciousness. The “spiritual” pagan creates an afterlife of his own imagination, but this is always corrupted by the sin of his flesh. It cannot be compared to the bliss which God has in store for the faithful. The torment of hell is a surprise to both the “spiritual” and atheist pagan because they also cannot imagine its horrors.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. This is a statement of fact for all Christians who mourn the death of loved ones. You are comforted and you shall continue to be comforted, even when it doesn’t feel comfortable. Your faithful departed are with you now because we are joining them in their worship of Christ, even if you are not aware of their presence.

Do not turn away the comfort of the Holy Ghost by refusing to mourn. Do not allow your mourning to turn into despair or uncontrollable weeping. These are a sign of mourning without hope. Do not blame God for you pain or suffering. Rather, mourn for you loss. Mourn for the sin of the world which has caused that loss. Then pray that God would comfort you. Pray that the Holy Ghost would console your conscience. Pray that God would strengthen your faith through the Word of God and the presence of his saints, both on this side of glory and the other.

The comfort of the Church Militant and the Church Triumphant is our unity in the Body of Christ. If we abide in his word, he abides in us. If we abide in Christ, we abide together with Franklin, Wilbur, Doug, Barry, and Nancy. This unity with the saints in glory cannot be taken away. Our experience of this unity can only grow as we too make our way into glory.

The Beatitudes are listed in a progression from worldly suffering to spiritual virtues, to conclude in suffering persecution, reviling, and wicked deeds. The response to this is to Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. Your reward in heaven is complete unity with all the saints and eternal worship of Christ. You will be like the glorified Christ and shall see Him as He is, face to face. You shall see him and know him. Blessed are the saints in glory, for their journey is complete. Blessed are you, for you are never alone. Blessed are we, for together we sing the praise of Christ, who has washed our robes and made them white in his blood.

In T Jesus’ name. Amen.

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[1] Revelation 6:9-10, “When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

[2] Hebrews 12:1-2.