“Passing on the Torch”

Sermon - October 29, 2023

22nd Sunday After Pentecost (Year A) (Proper 30)

All Saints’ Sunday

Baptism & Holy Communion

Revelation 7:9-17

Psalm 78:1-8

1 John 3:1-3

John 4:32-38

“Passing on the Torch”

I begin my sermon this morning with an interesting and rather provocative question. Years ago, an American church educator posed the question, “Will Our Children Have Faith?”, in a book by that same name. It is the same issue that our psalm for today, Psalm 78, also raises:

“I will declare the mysteries of ancient times, that which we have heard and known, and what our ancestors have told us, we will not hide from their children. We will recount to generations to come the praiseworthy deeds and power of the Lord, and the wonderful works he has done.”

And why the psalmist think that this is important?

“That the generations to come might know, and the children yet unborn, that they in turn might tell it to their children; so that they might put their trust in God, and not forget the deeds of God, but keep his commandments.”

And, what happens if they are not told, if they do not know? According to the psalmist, their lives would be in shambles. They lost their nerve and their confidence, because they were trusting only in themselves and their resources, and not in God.

Now, as we went through this, did you notice how many generations he named? He mentions at least four or five generations here: our forefathers, like our parents and grandparents; generations to come; children yet unborn; and their children as well. That’s quite a ‘herd’ of people, all of which are expected to pass on the faith.

We see something of this in our baptismal service this morning. The parents and godparents, right off at the beginning of the service, are asked two things, two things that they declare themselves willing to do:

“Will you be responsible for seeing that the child you present is nurtured in the faith and life of the Christian community?”

“Will you by your prayers and witness help this child to grow into the full stature of Christ?”

Those certainly have to do with passing on the faith, and then the vows, the six of them, continue in this vein. The parents and godparents make these vows on behalf of their youngsters but also on behalf of themselves, as they will have to live out these vows in front of their kids. They become visible, living examples and role models of what it means to be a follower of Christ. And, of course, they do this not just with their words and prayers, but also by the way they live. Lived out examples are always more powerful than mere words.

However, let me say, in all honesty, that all this is much easier said than done. All three of my boys were raised in the church and yet only one is an active church goer and participant today. The other two got involved in sports and other activities on Sundays and have friends that are not active Christians or church goers, and so their children, my grandchildren, have not been raised up in the church. So, I know how difficult this is, so let me suggest yet another tack, another strategy.

Today, as well as celebrating these children and the new life they are now beginning in Christ and in His church, we are also celebrating all the countless people who have gone before us, faithful people, both those known to us and those unknown. According to our reading from Revelation, they are without number, beyond any human reckoning.

However, that is not all. In today’s gospel reading from John, Jesus has seemingly stumbled upon a hitherto unexplored, untouched mission field. They are Samaritans, a diverse and racially mixed crew that ‘proper’ Jews dismissed and wouldn’t even associate with. Indeed, proper Jews consider ed them to be mongrels and infidels, and pond scum not even worth the time of day. And yet, here are droves of them coming to Jesus, wanting to

hear Him, know Him and spend time with Him, and ultimately coming to salvation and faith in Him.

But notice something else: Jesus says that someone else has already been at work in their hearts, preparing them for this day. “One person has sown, and another will reap,” He says. How very curious: who in the world could that first person have been? We will never know. Jesus presumably has never been there before and none of His disciples either, so who planted the seed? It is one of those mysteries. It must be some of those unseen, unrecognized, unnamed saints that the passage from Revelation speaks of.

But, then, isn’t that so very much like life in general? There are all sorts of unseen, unrecognized, unnamed people who have had an impact on us.

So, let me ask you who are the people who have touched your life for good? These are the persons that I would label as being ‘your’ saints. It may be a parent or grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a coach or schoolteacher, a family friend, or some other.

For me, it was my godmother who prayed for me diligently and knew that I would be a priest long before I knew it, my grade six schoolteacher who encouraged me to write, several high school teachers, one of which taught me how to write, several clergy persons when I was a teenager or young adult, some friends from school or work, some family friends, and believe or not, the mother of one of my Bible-study kids. Each of these touched my life for good and is one of my personal saints.

So, in light of this, let me suggest four things to you. First off, to name those saints, those personal saints, and, if possible thank them in some way. (If deceased, you can always mention them to a surviving family member.) I did that once with one of my schoolteachers and she was flabbergasted. She had never realized about her influence in my life and was most pleased and touched to hear my praise.

Second, to write out, even if only briefly, what they have meant to you and they impacted your life for good.

Thirdly, to record a kind of spiritual memoir, a spiritual diary, of how God has worked in your life. (What I find over and over again when I’m doing a funeral is that the children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews often have little or no idea of what God meant to their deceased loved one, or of

how God had worked in that person’s life.). So, doing this will not only bless them and help them to know you better, but also help them with it comes time for your own funeral arrangements.

And finally, to decide who you were going to be a saint to—and how. Who is it that you can somehow touch for good? And, how do you propose to do it?

Someone once said that the church—and faith in general—is always just one generation from extinction. So, to illustrate this, let me put you on the spot. Raise your hands if you are over 60. (I’m one of those.) In forty years, I can pretty well guarantee that most of us won’t be around, and even if still alive, probably won’t be very active in continuing the church. It won’t be up to us anymore.

And how many of you are under 30? Raise your hands. Or between 30 and 60? Again, raise your hands. So, with you last two groups, it is and will be entirely up to you--whether you decide to be a saint and pass it on in some way, or not.

To me, it is like an Olympic torch run or a relay race: each and every link, each and every torch bearer or runner, is vital to the overall cause. Each link is essential and must do his or her part, and that, is exactly how it is with each of us. Each of you, each of us, is needed and vital. Each of us has a torch, a baton, to pass on. Amen.