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Sermon Preached at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Granite Springs by the the Reverend Matthew Mead
November 1, 2009
All Saints' Day
(RCL): Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 24; Revelation 21:1-6a; John 11:32-44


[Insert SMV story about daylight savings]

One of the children being baptized today is my son. For that reason, for the last few days I have thought more and more about a dinner my wife and I attended several years back. We were out with my former rector at Saint Mary’s and two of his friends, a priest, who has since become a Bishop, and his wife. They were in town to drop off their daughter at college. At some point during the meal I was asked if I had any suggestions for their daughter – even though her father was a priest, she wasn’t interested in church. They asked what my parents had done that had helped to show me that church was important.

I said that my parents first led by example but they also set down house rules: when me sister and I were under my parents’ roof – at home or on vacation, we went to church. There was no bargaining, there were no exceptions. That example and those ground rules made it crystal clear to me that Sunday was for church, not the New York Times or brunch or even football.

At the time, I didn’t think my answer was very good, it seemed too simplistic, but the more I think it over the more I think it was a good answer. Not necessarily the only answer to the challenge every Christian parent faces, but a good starting point.

Now, I have two children of my own and I have discovered through trial and error that being a responsible parent and being a responsible Christian often mean the exact same thing: setting the best example you can and following the same ground rules you set down for your children. When I let things slide, my children learn that those things are OK.

If I get angry and start yelling, do you know what my three-year-old does? He gets mad and starts yelling. If I say a word I shouldn’t say, a few minutes later he’s saying the same word. Maybe its funny the first time, but trust me, kids swearing gets old really fast. Its not just the bad things, the same is true for good things: I tell him that I love him all the time, and yesterday when he woke up from his nap the first words out of his mouth were “Daddy, I love you.” We say prayers every night with the boys and Liam already knows how to say grace and say his prayers.

Every parent knows it can be exhausting always being on – but every parent also knows what a difference it makes. Every day is a challenge being a parent, just like every day is a challenge being a Christian. And of course every parent and every Christian has good days and bad days.

You may not think of yourself first and foremost as a Christian, but other people do. Our neighbors know we go to church and they probably think of us as examples of what most Christians are like. When you and I witness to Christ in word or deed, people notice – they really do. And they notice too when you and I make the decision to take a day off from being a Christian.

Maybe I am naive, but I’ve always thought that one of the primary witnesses anyone can make for his or her faith in Christ is to be able to say: “I go to church on Sunday because I love the Lord Jesus.” The choice to skip a Sunday is something that doesn’t go unnoticed. If I am on vacation and I take a Sunday off, why shouldn’t my kids think that’s fine? Why should they stop there? If its OK to take one Sunday off, than logically isn’t it OK to take every Sunday off?

[Insert vacation story]

I can only speak from my own experience, but that particular example that my parents set for me made a difference in my life. I love brunch, I love football, and I love enjoying a beautiful day… but Sunday begins with Jesus and the rest falls into line after that.

There are many ways to be a faithful Christian, but that particular example is one that I pray I can offer to my kids and to those others who look at me and see “Christian”.

An example can be a powerful thing. Today is All Saints’ Day: We celebrate the saints who have come before us, those who, as my father would say, have made the Church’s Hall of Fame. Those Hall of Fame Saints have served countless generations as examples of the many different ways a person can live each day trying to serve and love the Lord Jesus.

But All Saints’ Day is not reserved only for those saints we know with famous names and famous accomplishments: we also celebrate those who will never make the official Hall of Fame. The saints who were only noticed by their children or their neighbors. All those saints who at one time or another made it clear by their words and deeds that Jesus Christ is important in their lives… I think if you look at it from that perspective, it begins to make sense that all the saints can include you and me too.

Note for all sermons: The text published here and what was actually preached from the pulpit may vary considerably. Think of this version as the published draft.