All Saints Sunday: The Leveling & Jesus' Sermon on the Plain
In this message for All Saints Sunday, Rev. Bailey Brislin explores Jesus' Sermon on the Plain from Luke 6 to illustrate God's call for solidarity and a leveling out of the social order. Drawing on the metaphor of preparing land for a farm, she challenges us to consider what it means to truly see our neighbors — the poor, the hungry, the weeping. We're reminded that our call to be the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus Christ involves comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. We learn how the saints in our lives loved us into being and we can continue their legacy by actively creating a path toward blessing and flourishing for all creation.
The guest preacher for this message was Rev. Bailey Brislin, a member at St. Stephen who works as works as Palliative Care Chaplain and Bereavement Coordinator at UNC Hospitals.
Sermon Reflections:
- Bailey uses the metaphor of "leveling the land" in farming to describe the social order Jesus calls us toward. What is one specific, un-leveled area (injustice, inequality, or need) in your local community that you are being called to address?
- Jesus’ message is described as comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. In which of these two groups do you most often find yourself, and what is one concrete way you can respond to Jesus's call from that position?
- Bailey asks, "What blessing do I have to offer?" What is a unique gift, resource, or piece of knowledge you possess that you can use to "dirty your hands in the work of leveling a path toward blessing and flourishing for all"?
- Mr. Rogers frequently asked, "Who are the people in your life who loved you into being?" As you remember the saints, what is the most important legacy of love or forgiveness you want to embody and pass on?
- Reflect on the contrast between the "blessings" and "woes" in the Scripture reading (Luke 6:20-31). What is the main value system Jesus is trying to subvert or establish for his disciples?
- Bailey suggests that our discipleship journey, like farming, requires "ongoing care and attention." What is one spiritual practice or act of service you can commit to for a sustained period to continue the work of Christ's solidarity?