November 1, 2022

"But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” (Luke 6:27)

Happy All Saints’ Day. The lectionary text for today is Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount. It is so chosen because the “communion of saints” (aka the sinful people freely justified by Christ’s blood shed on the cross) adhere to a wildly countercultural way of living in this world. The fact that we don’t always do it very well doesn’t remove one jot or tittle from the power of the Christ’s words.

Love your enemies. What? Bless, rather than cancel, those who curse you? He can’t be serious. But He is. And was. So much so that He did all this for us on Good Friday.

“Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Palm Sunday – BCP)