Sunday, November 1, 2009

Deuteronomy 34.1-12, Matthew 21.1-22 - Lectionary for 11/1/09

Today's readings are Deuteronomy 34.1-12 and Matthew 21.1-22.

Today is recognized as All Saints' Day, the day when we remember and rejoice in the lives of believers, living and dead.  Our readings point us to this reality, this promise of eternal life.  In this earthly life, Moses can go near the land of promise but does not get to enter it.  His sin and the frailty of his aged body prevent him from being a partaker of the promise, as did Abraham's sin and frailty, along with countless others over hundreds of years.  But Moses is blessed to see what he has longed for, to have a glimpse of what others will soon inherit.

We likewise will not enter the land of promise in this earthly life.  In our mortality though we can approach the promised land we will not inherit it.  We inherit the land only in our immortality, once our mortal lives have ended.  We look to Jesus, the forerunner, who in today's reading does enter the city of Jerusalem as a king, ready to inherit his throne.  We look in faith to Jesus who has risen from the dead as the firstfruits of the resurrection and has taken his immortal throne.  We look to the day when we, along with all the saints, will be raised in incorruptibility to an eternal life in the land of promise.  This is the promise made to all the saints.  This is why we an celebrate on a day like this.  All the saints, living temporally and living eternally, are living.  Our Lord is the lord of life.
 


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