Sermon – November 2nd, 2025
Hope Lutheran Church, Port Coquitlam BC
Text: Matthew 5:1-12; Revelation 7
Theme: “The Blessed”
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Introduction – All Saints’ Day is interesting because it pulls us in two different directions at once. We look backward, remembering those who have died in the faith — people we miss, people who helped shape our faith. But at the same time, Christ points us forward —to the future He has prepared for us. And right in the middle of both comes Jesus with these words: (SLIDE 1a)
Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are those who mourn. Blessed are the persecuted.
When Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount, He looks at a group of people who don’t look particularly successful or confident and says to them: “Blessed are…” The Greek word (SLIDE 1b)He uses is μακάριοι (makarioi). It means “deeply favored by God, deeply fortunate, living under God’s care.” Not luck, our material prosperity, or perfect health. Blessed. Something deeper and permanent.
(SLIDE 2) What we see though, is that Jesus attaches this title to people who appear the opposite of fortunate: the poor in spirit, the grieving, the meek, the persecuted. And we think: “Really? Blessed?” Because if we’re honest, when we hear the word blessed, we picture the opposite. We think of success, strength, comfort, a life that looks like everything is working out. These are not the people who get congratulated in our world. They are people the world looks at many times and says: “Unlucky. Unsuccessful. Unnoticed. Unimportant.” And yet Jesus declares: they are the blessed ones.
That is why the definition of μακάριοι(makarioi) is fundamental. These are people who are “deeply fortunate, honored by God.”
Why would He do that? (SLIDE 3) Because the Beatitudes are not describing people who look blessed — they are describing people who belong to The Blessed One. Here’s the play of words in our title today: we tend to read it as plural, “The Blessed”, us – and that is true, for Jesus talks about those who are Blessed. But it points the reason that is true – and it is singular. It is because of (Slide 4) The Blessed. The Blessed One, Jesus. He is the Makarios, the truly blessed Man — the only One who fully embodied all these things. And He gives His blessedness to those who trust Him.
(Slide 5) This shows us that blessedness is not necessarily a description of how life looks — it is a declaration of who you are in Christ. “Blessed are” is present tense — not “Blessed will be.” Jesus isn’t describing a reward we might earn if we perform well enough. He is describing the identity He gives to us as a gift. We are blessed because we already belong to Him, the true Blessed One — the One who perfectly embodies every Beatitude for us.
This becomes even more clear when we notice something special about the “Blessed” sayings: each of them can be first applied to Jesus Himself.
(SLIDE 6 – level by level)
He became poor in spirit — emptying Himself on our behalf.
He mourned — weeping over sin and death.
He was perfectly meek — refusing violence even when attacked.
He hungered and thirsted for righteousness to save the world.
He was merciful — forgiving even His executioners.
He was pure in heart — always faithful to the Father’s love.
He is the great Peacemaker — reconciling us to God by His blood.
He was persecuted unto death — so that we would live.
He is The Blessed One who makes us The Blessed Ones. We are not blessed because we have mastered the Beatitudes. We are blessed because the Blessed One has claimed us, forgiven us, and covered us in His righteousness.
And this changes how we walk through daily life:
(SLIDE 7 – level by level) Blessed are:
- the Poor in spirit — We depend on Jesus rather than pretending to have it all together. We admit our need, and He meets us with His grace.
- Those who mourn — We grieve, honestly and compassionately, not avoiding suffering but bringing it to Christ who brings true comfort. We sit with others in their sorrow instead of rushing to fix it.
- The Meek — Instead of pride and defensiveness, we seek humility. We want to listen before we argue, trusting that the meek will inherit more than this world could ever give.
- The Hungering and thirsting for righteousness — we try to reflect Christ’s justice where we live. We pursue God’s will in our homes, workplaces, and communities — not just to win arguments, but to reflect Christ’s justice and mercy.
- The Merciful — We forgive as we have been forgiven. We offer second chances in a world that often tries to cancel people, because Christ never cancels us.
- the Pure in heart — We ask God to shape not only what we do, but what we desire. We seek integrity — the same heart in private that we show in public.
- The Peacemakers — We wish to heal, not to end, relationships. We try to take steps toward reconciliation even when the world tells us to divide, avoid, or retaliate.
- Persecuted for righteousness — We stay faithful even when it’s unpopular. We know it means we are still His. We accept that following Jesus may cost us comfort — but never our hope.
We do not live these things to become blessed — we live them because (SLIDE 8) we already are blessed in Christ. Our faith bears fruit as we live toward Life with Jesus at the center.
Blessed Saints
(SLIDE 9)On All Saints’ Day, we think of those who now the Lord has called to Himself — the saints in heaven. Their bodies have been laid to rest, but their souls are with Christ, waiting for the resurrection.[1]
We call them “saints” not because they lived perfect lives or achieved spiritual greatness of their own, but because they were set apart by Christ — forgiven sinners made holy by His grace. In Scripture, the word “saints” simply means “holy ones,” those who belong to Jesus. That includes them and us, those still fighting and those already resting. That includes you and me. The difference is not in our identity, but our different locations. We are one communion: saints in heaven and saints on earth — one Church in Christ.
On All Saints’ Day, we speak the name of death — not to either fear or glorify it, but to put it back in its place. Death is real. It hurts. It separates… but only for a time.
For death does not get the last word. Christ has defeated it and given us life. We don’t become stars or angels. We don’t float around as vague spiritual energy. We remain who we are — children of God, waiting with Jesus for the resurrection and the beginning of life eternal in full.[2]
Blessed – Now
But do not miss this: eternal life is already yours too. We do not wait until death to become God’s saints. The promise of Eternal life was given to you the moment Jesus claimed you in Baptism, the moment you were called to faith, and He placed His name upon you. You live your entire Christian life with the end in mind — not fearing death, because Christ has already passed through death before you. (SLIDE 10b) When you are in Christ, you have life eternal (John 3:16;36) Eternal life is not assured to you only after the funeral Service. It was given to you the moment Jesus claimed you as His own.
This makes us blessed. But remember, to be “blessed” doesn’t mean that everything goes well all the time… Yes, we are and we feel blessed in good times. But It means also that even when everything falls apart, Christ is holding you together.[3] We may face grief, hardship, and loss, but Christ promises we never face them alone. We may feel anything but blessed, yet Jesus says we are. His Word is stronger than our feelings. His promise is greater than our circumstances. His blessing is deeper than any wound.
(SLIDE 11)When you feel poor in spirit — Jesus says: you are mine. When you mourn — Jesus says: comfort is real. When the world rejects you — Jesus says: I never will. You may not look blessed. You may not feel blessed. But you are blessed. Because He is — and you are in Him.
One day, our faith will turn to sight. Our mourning will become joy. Our struggle will be over. And we will join that great multitude — shoulder to shoulder — with those we have loved and lost. Not as ghosts. Not as angels. But as The Blessed in Christ forever.
(SLIDE 12)Conclusion – Makarioi. We are The Blessed, you and I — not because we won it, but because of the One who is truly The Blessed: Jesus. And because you belong to Him.
Amen.
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[1] On All Saints’ Day we especially remember those who have gone before us in the faith. They were people like us — not perfect, not always strong, not always spiritually impressive — but baptized and redeemed. They trusted in Christ in the midst of their own poverty of spirit. Their bodies have been laid to rest, but their souls are with Christ, waiting for the resurrection. We don’t become angels, or stars, or spirits watching over the earth — we remain who we are, God’s children in Christ
[2] This is why the saints in Heaven, if we could ask them today, would say to us: “Do not give up. Keep going. The Lamb has already won.” Their lives — whether long or short — were lived in this same hope: that the Blessed One has made them blessed forever.
[3] This is the beautiful truth: eternal life does not begin only after our funeral — it began when Christ claimed us as His own. We already live as saints, blessed in Christ, even while we still wrestle with sin, grief, and pain. To be blessed does not mean that everything goes well for us in this world. It means that even when everything seems to fall apart, we are held by the One who promises: “Yours is the kingdom of heaven.” Today, even our mourning is wrapped in the promise of comfort. Even our weakness is covered by Christ’s strength. Even persecution cannot remove the blessing Christ speaks over us.
