They are folk like me. There's great hope in that. It means I don't have to be perfect. It means that with God's grace and help, I too can be a saint. There's this great Eastern Orthodox icon of the Second Coming which is also used for veneration and meditation on All Saints Day. In the image, you have Jesus in the celestial heavens surrounded by angels, Mary, the apostles, saints and martyrs...in other words, all the company of heaven. And at the bottom of the icon, you have Abraham and the Good Theif in the Garden of Paradise, both being welcomed by Jesus' open arms in heaven. Now just think about that image for a moment. Here is Jesus welcoming both the faithful and the sinner who has repented to join him with all those other angels, martrys, apostles and saints. That means that there is a place for each one of us in this group too. Imagine for just a moment that you are standing there in that image between Abraham and the Good Theif, being welcomed by Jesus. Can you imagine that kind of grace? That undiscriminating love and forgiveness?
Just as I wrestle with the questions of modern day prophets, I wrestle with the question of there being saints among us. When David Duncombe died earlier this year and we held a vigil for him, we prayed the collect for a saint. And as I reflected on the life of David earlier this week with a fellow minister, we started to talk about David's work for the common good, his desire to create and maintain relationships, his creativity and courage, and his willingness to let go of attachments. David, in the opinion of many, was a saint. And while I doubt that I can or will ever be a fraction of the person David was, I do know that with God's help, I too can be a saint.
I've spoken before of my going to hear Desmond Tutu back in May and the theology of Unbuntu (I am because you are). Tutu speaks of us as co-creators with God, and that as co-creators, we have a responsibility, or stewardship if you will, to each other and the world. The reading from Revelation really called that to mind for me. "...and there was a great multitude...from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne...and [they] worship him [God] day and night...They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them...for the Lamb...will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes". I think part of our role as saints is to not just be the ones standing there at the throne of God, but help to bring others along with us by easing their hunger and pain...unbuntu. And for some of us, that might be a very real and tangible way of helping (working in the food bank, making sandwiches for the warming shelter, donating funds to Haiti) or it may be the intangible, spiritual way of helping through prayer, meditation, reflection and deep listening. God calls us to be saints, or co-creators, with God. God is waiting for us, whether we are standing next to the Good Thief, at the throne, or are already counted among the company of heaven.
And I want to be one too.