Rev Chris Roth

Malachi 4:1-2; Psalm 98; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Luke 21:5-19 Our reading from the prophet Malachi is about the Day of the Lord. An anticipated day of Judgement when all things will be set right. Some scholars think that Paul’s words against being idle in 2nd Thessalonians is a warning to people who stopped working because they were sure Jesus was going to come right away. Our Gospel reading is speaking about the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple and the Second Coming of Christ, and this is anticipating the Reign of Christ, which we celebrate next week, and is the end of the Liturgical year. In a way this is a little mini-Advent. Advent is a time when we prepare for the coming of Christ, both at Christmas, and the 2nd Coming. How do we prepare for the coming of Christ? Paul warns us against being idle. We shouldn’t just laze around waiting. There is work to be done. … Jesus warns us to not be led astray by people who come in his name, and to not connect wars and earthquakes to his ...

Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18; Ps 149; Ephesians 1:11-23; Luke 6:20-31 Today we are celebrating the feast of All Saints. The word “saint” means “holy one”. To be a saint means to have such a close relationship with God that God’s holiness is reflected- Sort of how the moon reflects the sun’s light. This is what all Christians are called to be. The French novelist Leon Bloy once said,  "the only real sadness, the only real failure, the only great tragedy in life, is not to become a saint".  To not become a saint means to miss God’s call on our life. Paul refers to the people in his churches as “saints”. So, in a sense, it is both what we are because of Christ’s work to save us, and what we are called to be because of how Christ is transforming us. Saints are what we are, since as Christians, we are the Body of Christ. So, St. Paul writes to the Ephesians saying,  “To the saints who are in Ephesus…” (Eph 1:1). At other times Paul will write saying,  “To all God’s beloved in Ro...