Rochester, MN UCC - "The Triumph Over Death" - Isaiah 25:6-9

Isaiah speaks of death as the shroud that is cast over all peoples- a covering spread over all nations. The certainty of death and its finality- that it awaits us all and puts an end to our earthly existence- can indeed cast a dark shadow over the life we live. Death can make life seem meaningless, it can lead us to despair when we think of the inevitability of loss and grief. Yet Isaiah tells us that death is not truly final- that one day death itself will be overcome, will be swallowed up forever.

 It is the faith of the Christian Church that in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ this prophecy of Isaiah was fulfilled- death was indeed swallowed up forever! Jesus has freed humanity from the specter of death, opening the path for us to join him in eternal life. The quality of this eternal life is described by Isaiah as a feast of abundance where all tears have been wiped away, all disgrace removed, and where all people rejoice in the salvation of God. We trust that this is the reality into which all our deceased loved ones have gone before us. What is more, we trust that this is the ultimate destiny and future of all of creation- that one day the heavenly banquet will fully descend to the earth and death will be no more.

 For All Saints this Sunday, we will ring bells for the beloved members of our congregation that have died in the past year. We will remember them, celebrate their life and their faith, and mourn their loss. We will also hear once more the promises of God delivered by Isaiah, and reassure our faith that the love of God vanquishes the power of death and that our loved ones await us in that promised, glorious banquet in the full presence of God. May God comfort us, may God wipe away our tears, and may God fill our hearts with hope.

 Rev. Andrew Greenhaw