Coming down off the mountain with them, he stood on a plain surrounded by disciples, and was soon joined by a huge congregation from all over Judea and Jerusalem, even from the seaside towns of Tyre and Sidon. They had come both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him – so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke:

You're blessed when you've lost it all.
God's kingdom is there for the finding.
You're blessed when you're ravenously hungry.
Then you're ready for the Messianic meal.

You're blessed when the tears flow freely.
Joy comes with the morning.

"Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens – skip like a lamb, if you like! – for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this.

But it's trouble ahead if you think you have it made.
What you have is all you'll ever get.

And it's trouble ahead if you're satisfied with yourself.
Your self will not satisfy you for long.

And it's trouble ahead if you think life's all fun and games.
There's suffering to be met, and you're going to meet it.

"There's trouble ahead when you live only for the approval of others, saying what flatters them, doing what indulges them. Popularity contests are not truth contests – look how many scoundrel preachers were approved by your ancestors! Your task is to be true, not popular.

"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this: Love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer for that person. If someone slaps you in the face, stand there and take it. If someone grabs your shirt, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. If someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.

"Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them!

Luke 6:20-31 (The Message)

Those very familiar words wrapped in the earthy language of Eugene Peterson's "The Message" paraphrase of the Bible. A description of saintly living. I am particularly struck by the way he describes what we know as the golden rule: "Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them!" What a different world we could live in!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses … " If the text from Luke describes saintly living, this opening line of a text from the book of Hebrews describes the reality in which we live … surrounded by those who have demonstrated saintly living for us so that we might learn better how to live as God's people in the world. We come to remember those persons this morning in the celebration of All Saints. Some of our saints are sitting in the pews this morning … we know the comfort and inspiration they surround us with. At the same time we come to celebrate the memory of saints who have gone before us – grieving in some cases a very fresh loss … remembering they ways they touched and strengthened our living. Other saints we celebrate historically – remembering the ways in which they touched and influenced the church in ways that furthered the spread of the Gospel Story we share today.

One such historical saint we remember today as we continue our focus on our Wesleyan heritage is Peter Bohler. Both John and Charles Wesley felt called to spread the gospel to this country. Both of them failed miserably in their missionary zeal. The struggle that John Wesley went through in this time is well recorded in his journal. Hear John's words after escaping from the Americas with a warrant out for his arrest: While still on the ship to England he wrote: "I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! who shall convert me? who, what is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief? I have a fair summer religion. I can talk well; nay, and believe myself, while no danger is near; but let death look me in the face, and my spirit is troubled. Nor can I say, 'To die is gain!' I have a sin of fear, that when I've spun my last thread, I shall perish on the shore.!" (Journal of John Wesley; January 24, 1738)

Wesley returned to England doubting his calling, at times wondering if he even knew and believed truly that God loved him. Soon after his return to England he met up again with the group of Moravian Brethren that had impressed him on the journey to the Americas. He had observed the depth of their spirituality and in his journal describes them as living the beatitudes. When their ship encountered a huge storm on that journey, Wesley marveled at the depth of their trust in God. Observing how they continued their service of praise even as waves were crashing over the ship and everyone else was screaming he asked them: "Where you not afraid? He answered, 'I thank God, no.' I asked, 'But were not your women and children afraid?' He replied, mildly, 'No; our women and children are not afraid to die." (Journal, January 25, 1736)

This group of "saints," the Moravian Brethren had what John Wesley longed for himself – an inner assurance of God's loving presence that was displayed in their outward living … a salvation by faith alone. In particular he turned to one of them, a man named Peter Bohler, for guidance and direction. As John Wesley struggled with whether to continue preaching in them months after his return to England, he recorded this conversation in his journal: "Immediately it struck into my mind, 'Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not faith yourself?' I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, 'By no means.' I asked, 'But what can I preach?' He said, 'Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it you will preach faith." (Journal, March 4, 1738) Bohler's statement to John Wesley kept him going in that time of despair and because of his witness we gather here this morning.

Just like John Wesley we have our moments … and just like Peter Bohler we have our moments. We have all found ourselves as Wesley did … the dry times when we go through the motions – wondering what in the world we are doing, wondering if we have been wandering down the wrong path all along. Give thanks for the great cloud of witnesses that surround us in those times, giving us strength to keep going, walking with us … and sometimes even walking for us … caring for us when cannot care for ourselves. And like Peter Bohler may we find ourselves living in such a way that others might be strengthened on their journeys … to find the assurance and security of Christ's love … and to be encouraged to be the living presence of Christ in the world.

For all the saints … who in so many ways have blessed us, touched us, encouraged us and who keep us we gather to give thanks. They have shown us the way of Christ as they live in his example and teaching. Therefore, surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, we go forth to continue the story of God's great love for humankind.