Shepherd of the Springs
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod

Text: Matthew 5: 11-12

Theme: Blessed are the afflicted in the Kingdom of God: They are normal

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. . . . for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Vss. 10, 12b)

This morning we celebrate All Saints Day, which on the Church calendar falls on November 1^st, the day after All Hallows Eve (Halloween). It is this day in the Medieval Church that special distinctive Church leaders in its history were honored. With Luther, however, we have regained the New Testament sense of what it means to be a saint. The word, saint, literally means, a holy one - and that is exactly what every Christian is in their baptism, washed clean in the blood of the Lamb and clothed in his righteousness and holiness, without spot or blemish. That’s you. You are a saint. Our Gospel for this day includes a major portion of the Beatitudes that Jesus delivered in the Sermon on the Mount. It sketches who the people of God, the saints are; how they are despised of men, and how they are the invaluable salt and light to the world. Our brief reflection on characteristics of what it means to be a saint and what kind of life one could expect being one in the fallen world, centers on vss. 10 & 12 (read above).

Actually these verses from the Beatitudes are descriptions of just some of the saints - those who are still living here in this fallen world. Those who have already left this vale of tears and are now with the Lord, face-to-face . . . they are the saints who are now resting from their labors. They are experiencing all of the blessings noted here in Jesus’ sermon in a manifold measure, and are no longer hungering or thirsting, or subject to the wiles of the Devil as described in our first lesson in Revelation 7. But for we, the saints still on earth, it was Luther who reminds us in his Large Catechism that it is Satan himself that assails and vexes all Christians in this life. His explanation of the sixth petition in the Lord’s Prayer - and lead us not into temptation - promised the Christian no exemption from trials and temptations. Rather, Luther maintained as long as we live in the flesh and have the Devil prowling about us. . . We cannot help but suffer tribulation, and even be entangled in [trials], but we pray here that we may not fall into them and be overwhelmed by them. Luther’s discovery that the just shall live by faith alone included the recognition that faith will not be left alone in the Christian life. It will be assaulted by attacks and tribulations of the Unholy Spirit. Our peace with God constantly brings conflict and adversity with the world, the flesh and the Devil. The Church militant as the Community of Saints is and must remain in this life the community of those afflicted by the Devil.

Our Lord assured his disciples as he has assured all the saints that the gates of Hell will not prevail against his Kingdom. Nevertheless, on the basis of our text that Jesus would have us realized that the gates of Hell will not be collapsing at any time soon. The forces of Hell remain active in this world and they are out to visit violence upon the saints and citizens of the Lord’s Kingdom. Again it was Luther who stressed the point that when the prophetic Word of the God comes forth in all of its truth and purity, the Kingdom of God is indeed advanced. Sinners become holy saints, the spiritually dead are baptized, and become partakers of the bread of Life, those loaded down with guilt are covered with the righteousness of Christ and are secured in the peace of God. Yet, at the very same time that Christ makes these bold moves in extending his Kingdom - and for the very same reason - namely that He does so with the Power of his Gospel, an alarm goes off in the nether regions and the forces of Hell get busy.

As the Kingdom of God advances here in the world, it is persecuted by powers of darkness. That is just the way it is and will be until the end of time. When we survey the decisive saving events of Christ’s passion and resurrection, the religious and civil leadership of the day are poised to visit great violence. John the Baptist and Jesus are put to death and their disciples scattered into seeming obscurity. And when the Church of Christ did arise beginning at Pentecost, it also faced persecution, first by the Jews and then by the Romans. Do we not see Satan and the powers of Hell behind all of this? Do we not see him violently visiting his most lethal and powerful assaults upon the people of God? As the Kingdom mightily advances in the world, it is mightily assaulted - As the pure preaching of God’s Word is proclaimed with renewed faithfulness and power, there Satan is at work producing collateral damage in the Kingdom of God.

What does this mean for the you? It means, in part, according to the wisdom of Dr. Luther and the words of Jesus, that you too shall, at times, feel and rub up against the Gates of Hell. By having become Saints of the Kingdom where the pure Word of Christ reigns. . . . you can expect Satan to be mightily at work, right here in our midst. Where the Law of God crushes for repentance, there Satan shall also be in the thick of it, working to produce offense or rebellion among the saints. Where the Gospel gifts of forgiveness, righteousness, life and peace with God are given unconditionally and nothing more is required; . . .where the freedom of Christ and the fullness of the inheritance of the Kingdom are bestowed and lived in without nary one single demand for merit or contribution on our part; . . . where faith and faith alone live with Christ and his Church and serves through the neighbor’s need in the world; . . . there the gates of Hell will be slamming up against the saints. Satan is going to be hard at work to have you grow fat on the pure Gospel and use grace as a license for sin. He will see to it that some complain of boredom and a lack of excitement in the Church. And, Satan will be hard at work to see that you have your share of tribulations. But the important point to remember is that for the saints of the Kingdom of God, this is normal.

But take heart, this is not a sign of things going wrong . . . this is a sign from God’s perspective that all is going well for you as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Jesus and his servant Dr. Luther remind us, that when Christ and his Gospel reign, God is having his way, even using Satan and the rattling of the gates of Hell to see that his Kingdom is established and we are secured safely therein. In these times as you await with all of the saints the return of Christ, there is no better or safer place to be then in the Kingdom where the Gospel and sacraments reign supreme . . . and yes . . . where the gates of Hell rattle all around you. Be at peace . . . for the peace of God is yours and soon, you too will join the saints who from their labors rest. And he will wipe away all of your tears. Jesus, promises.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. A-men.