Faith Lens: Blessed Are You, Saint
Faith Lens is a weekly Bible study that engages youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life.
Prepare
Today is All Saints Day, when many congregations remember and pray for those who have died, especially those who have died within the past year. Some congregations ring bells or light candles as they read names aloud. These traditions, along with recognizing certain people as saints after their deaths (Saint Peter or Saint Mary), can lead us to think of saints as individuals who have died.
However, Scripture uses the word saints to refer to Christians within a community. For example, Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians with these words: “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus” (Ephesians 1:1). In other words, we are saints now because we are part of the Christian community. We do not earn the title of saint only after we die, nor does it depend on whether others consider us faithful or good enough.
We can mark the beginning of our lives as saints not on the All Saints Sunday after we die, or even on the day of our death. Instead, it is when we become part of a Christian community. For many, that might be their baptism, when we are marked with the cross of Christ and claimed as children of God. For others, the beginning of their lives as saints might be when they started to attend worship. Or, for others, it might be when they started to question how God is active in their lives.
Blessed Are You, Saint
Be cautious of only using baptism as the marker of becoming a saint, as some of the people part of today’s discussion might not be baptized. And yet, by being part of the conversation, they are part of the saints.
Today, as we remember those who have gone before us, we will also remember that we are part of the community of saints here and now.
Opening Exercise
In small groups, discuss: “What does the word ‘blessed’ mean? And when have you felt blessed?”
Text Read Aloud
Blessed Are You, Saint
A simple search for #blessed on any social media platform will bring up a wide variety of results, from sermons and baby pictures to AI-generated prayer memes and much more. Yet, all these posts have something in common. The person sharing them sees something positive in what they are posting and is often expressing gratitude for the people or things they are sharing.
In our reading from Matthew today, Jesus uses the word “blessed” nine times. The first eight times, Jesus names a group of people with a particular virtue and offers each group a unique reason or promise for their blessing. Many of these virtues are qualities we associate with saints, such as hungering and thirsting for righteousness, showing mercy, and being pure in heart.
Then comes the final blessing. In verses 11 and 12, Jesus shifts from speaking about groups of people who possess certain virtues to addressing “you,” the disciples he is speaking to directly. He calls them blessed when others mistreat them because they follow him. He also shifts the focus to the past, reminding them that the prophets who came before them were treated in the same way. In this blessing, Jesus warns the disciples that following him will not always be easy, while also reminding them that they stand in a long line of faithful people who have faced similar struggles.
Blessed Are You, Saint
Today, on All Saints Sunday, we tend to look back at those who have died, especially those in the past year. And we remember them as saints who have gone before us. This passage from Matthew was chosen for our Gospel reading today because it lifts up qualities often associated with saints, reminding us that generations of saints have struggled to follow Jesus.
However, our reading from 1 John tells us that we are children of God now. This means that we are part of the community of saints even as we live our lives today.
And as part of that community, we are called to embody many of the virtues Jesus describes in Matthew; to recognize and celebrate these qualities in the living as well as in those who have died; and to follow Jesus even when others do not understand our faith.
Thankfully, we do not do this alone. We are part of a community of saints. This community includes those who have nurtured us in our faith and those with whom we continue to grow in our understanding of God. And it includes you.
As part of this community you are prayed for, uplifted, and supported in your faith. And as part of the community, you also pray for, uplift, and support others in their faith.
You, dear readers, are children of God and part of the community of saints. I am grateful to be part of this community with you. I and others need you to be part of our community of saints who share faith together. Blessed All Saints Sunday to you! #blessed
Reflection Questions
Who are some people that are part of your community of saints that have blessed you?
Why do you think Jesus offers blessings to these virtues?
Which virtue are you most drawn to? Do you think the blessing/promise fits that virtue?
What does it mean to be called children of God?
Closing Activity
Write your own blessing following Jesus’ pattern: “Blessed are the ____, for they will/theirs is ____”
Blessing
The blessing below can be said once to the group or can be done individually. If the latter, have the blesser, with permission, trace a cross on the forehead or hand of the one they are blessing.
Blessed are you, child of God, for you shall be called saint.
Bio of Author
Becca Middeke-Conlin serves as the bishop of the Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod. She loves being able to interact with young people and looks forward to watching and participating in how they and the Holy Spirit will reform our church. She can be found on Sunday mornings wearing fun liturgically appropriate earrings (today’s most likely are angel wings) and many Sunday afternoons enjoying ice cream with church members.
