November 6, 2022 Faith Story: They Faithed
FAITH STORY
Hebrews 11:1-2, 32-40
November 6, 2022
Rev. Rhonda Blevins
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.
And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
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College students in a history class were studying the Protestant Reformation. The professor assigned each student to write a brief essay about someone notable from the Reformation—an essay they would read before the class. Assigning to each student a different notable person from that historical era, the professor assigned one student to write and present an essay about the wife of Martin Luther. The student did her work. She wrote her essay. And when she stood to speak, her nervousness obvious to the rest of the class, she began, “Coretta Scott King was born in Heiberger, Alabama on April 27, 1927 . . . ”
Wrong Reformation, dear one!
This is the time of year when many protestant churches celebrate “Reformation Sunday,” normally observed on or near October 31, the day Martin Luther is said to have tacked his “95 Theses” on the door of the Wittenberg Cathedral. We don’t make a big deal out of Reformation Sunday because we value Christian unity here at the Chapel—we have a good number of lovely Catholic folks who make their church home at the Chapel. So as an interdenominational congregation, we don’t make a big deal out of Reformation Sunday.
Reformation Day always falls on October 31—“All Hallows’ Eve” or what we call “Halloween.” Like Christmas Eve is the evening before Christmas Day, All Hallows’ Eve is the day before All Hallows’ Day, or what you most often hear called “All Saints’ Day.” All Saints’ Day is always on November 1. If you’re Catholic, perhaps you went to mass this past Tuesday to observe All Saints’ Day, remembering (particularly) those who left this world for the next since this time last year.
The ancient Celtic people believed All Saints’ Day to be a “thin place”—a time when the veil between this world and the spiritual realm is especially thin—the dividing line between earth and heaven becomes more porous. In Mexico, they call it “The Day of the Dead.” Rather than being a time of mourning, it’s a joyful celebration of ancestors and the idea that those we have loved and lost are not lost at all, but surrounding us, cheering us on until that time when we join them in the heavenly realm. (If you haven’t seen the Disney/Pixar film, Coco, I encourage you to do so. It’s a whimsical, touching animated film set on the Day of the Dead.)
Our scripture lesson today, and really the entirety of Hebrews 11 that we’ve been exploring these past few weeks, gives me an All Saints’ Day/Day of the Dead vibe.
The unknown author of Hebrews is obviously a Hebrew, writing to Hebrews. At first, the author names the Hebrew ancestors, the heroes of their faith, one by one. Some of the ancestors even get a whole paragraph describing their faith. But by the time we get to Hebrews 11:32, it seems to me that the author grew tired. Maybe his hand got tired. Maybe her baby woke up. Maybe the Georgia/Tennessee game was about to come on. Whatever the reason, the author kind of just throws a bunch of VIPs into one, long sentence:
For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel . . .
Want to hear something funny? When I was planning this sermon series I thought, “Oh, that will be a fun challenge to work in Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David and Samuel into a single sermon!” Then I had to actually write the sermon. Hahaha. Joke’s on me. But here goes:
· Gideon: won a decisive victory over a Midianite army despite a vast numerical disadvantage. Yay, Gideon!
· Barak: led an Israelite army against Sisera despite a vast disadvantage of 900 iron chariots. Yay, Barak!
· Samson: with his incredible strength, he singlehandedly defeated the Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey. Yay, Samson!
· Jephthah: was a great warrior who defeated the Ammonites. Yay, Jephthah!
· David: defeated Goliath with a slingshot and became king of Israel. Yay, David!
· Samuel: the last judge of Israel who stood against King Saul and anointed David as king. Yay, Samuel!
There is so much more to each of these stories than the one-line summary I offered here. But remember the context: this is a Hebrew writing to Hebrews. These stories are well known to the original audience, even if they aren’t as well-known to us, perhaps. These are their family stories. They knew these stories. These are the stories they told their children and their children’s children. “Gather ‘round, children. Let me tell you about your family . . .”
. . . who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death; they were sawn in two; they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains and in caves and holes in the ground.
And then the author names the point—the reason for writing this “Roll Call of Faith.”
Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.
The author is encouraging the people to endure in faith. Why? We discover in Hebrews 10 that those who have put their faith in Christ—good Hebrew people—that they have been and are being persecuted for their faith:
Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. (Hebrews 10:32-36)
“Persevere!” writes the author. Why? Because your forefathers and your foremothers persevered. They were tortured. They were flogged. They were mocked. They were chained. They were imprisoned.
They persevered. Now it’s your turn.
This message hits home for me. You see, every now and then I am tempted to feel sorry for myself. (Maybe I’m not alone in that.)
· Every now and then I get frustrated when the world doesn’t go the way I think it should.
· Every now and then I look around at people who seem to have so much and I get . . . well . . . jealous.
· Every now and then I grow fearful and anxious when I think about what’s happening in the world.
And then I think about people who walked this terrestrial ball before me—women and men who endured so much. I feel a little less sorry for myself when I think of them. I bet you know women and men who fought in wars, who battled terrible diseases, who endured unspeakable hardships. They persevered until that day came when their suffering was complete.
Whisper their names now . . .
For these saints of God, we give our thanks.
They persevered. Now it’s our turn.
I don’t know what you’re going through, but I do know that everybody’s going through something. Maybe you’re facing the biggest challenge of your life. Maybe you wonder if you
Remember the saints.
Listen to what the author of Hebrews writes at the beginning of the next chapter, just after the great “Roll Call of Faith.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. (Hebrews 12:1-2b)
Whatever you’re going through, you are not alone. The great cloud of witnesses is cheering us on from just the other side of the thin veil.
They persevered. Now it’s our turn.
That’s what faith looks like. Faith isn’t a verb, but it should be. If faith were a verb, it would look a lot like “persevere.”
They “faithed.” Now it’s our turn.
As we turn our attention to Christ’s table—as we receive the bread and the wine, the body and the blood of Christ into ourselves—receive these as gifts of faith and perseverance—a reminder that we do not face this world’s challenges on our own, but through Christ, we have an army of witnesses surrounding us, and cheering us on to victory.
So cheer up, saints of God! And give thanks.
We are not alone. We are never alone.