Year
AParaphrases of the Scripture Lections
for All Saints Day - Year A - 1 November 2002
Lections from The Revised Common Lectionary.
Copyright 1992 by the Consultation on Common Texts (CCT)
P. O. Box 340003, Room 381, Nashville, TN 37203-0003, USA. Used with Permission.
* Revelation 7: 9-17
........I had a vision of an enormous crowd, bigger than anyone could ever count. It was made up of people from every nation; from all the different ethnic groups, cultural groups and language groups. They were all standing together before the throne and before the Lamb of God. They were dressed in white robes and were waving banners and throwing flowers in the air. Their voices rose as one — an enormous roar — saying:
........“The life into which we have been saved
........belongs to our God who is seated on the throne,
........and to the Lamb of our God.”
Around the throne stood the four awesome creatures, and around them stood the twenty four elders, and around them stood all the angels. All together they fell to their knees before the throne, with their faces to the ground, and worshipped God, singing:
........“So say all of us!
........May glory and wisdom
........and gratitude and honour
........and authority and strength
........and every good thing
........be given to our God,
........from now to forever!
........And so say all of us!
........Then one of the elders came and spoke to me, saying, “What can you tell me about these people in white robes? Who are they, and where have they come from?”
........I replied, “I’m not sure, Sir, but you have the answers.”
........Then he said to me, “These are the people who have come through the ultimate atrocity. They have washed their robes as white as snow in the blood of the lamb.
........For this reason they now have the privilege
................of gathering before the throne of God,
........and there in the Temple they serve God, day and night,
................and the one who is seated on the throne
........................provides them refuge and safe shelter.
........Never again will they go hungry;
................never again will they go thirsty;
........never again will they be burned by the sun,
................or left exposed to any searing heat.
........The Lamb who is at the centre of the throne
................has guided them through the wilderness
........................and will now care for them forever.
........He will wipe every tear from their eyes
................and guide them to crystal clear springs
........................where the water of life bubbles up freely.”
©2001 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net
* Psalm 34: 1-10, 22
I will speak up in your favour, every chance I get, LORD.
........Every time I open my mouth, I’ll sing your praises.
Everything I’m proud of is your doing, LORD;
........the news of your goodness puts a smile on the face of the helpless.
I’ll put the spotlight on you, LORD;
........and gather a crowd to spread the word.
When I pounded on your door, LORD, you opened up;
........you calmed my fears and put my mind at rest.
Those who look to you light up with joy;
........their faces never grow dark with shame.
When I had nothing, I cried out, LORD, and you answered;
........you got me out of some serious trouble.
You station your angels to watch over those who trust you;
........they watch us, guard us, and get us safely through.
May everyone taste for themselves how good you are, LORD;
........may everyone find shelter in you and be happy.
May the people you have chosen treat you with respect, LORD;
........for those who do never want for anything.
Even fearsome sharks go hungry sometimes,
........but people who entrust themselves to you never miss out.
You, LORD, are always ready to bail out those who serve your cause;
........no one who runs to you for safety will be handed over to death.
©2000 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net
* 1 John 3: 1-3
Think about the extraordinary gift of love the Father has given us in allowing us to be known as God’s own children. Indeed that is what we now are. Of course, the world around us has never recognised God, and so it doesn’t recognise us as being God’s children either. My dear friends, we are God’s beloved children already. What we are destined to become goes beyond even that, but the details have not yet been made known to us. This much we know already: Christ will return to centre stage in clear view of everyone, and when that happens, we who will recognise him for who he really is will be just like him. Everyone who is living in eager anticipation of this will work at making themselves as pure as Christ.
©2002 Nathan Nettleton www.laughingbird.net
* Matthew 5: 1-12
Jesus found himself increasingly surrounded by crowds of people, so one day he headed off up the mountain. He sat down up there and his committed followers gathered around to hear what he had to say. This is what he taught them:
“Those who depend entirely on God for their welfare
........have got it made,
................because the whole realm of heaven belongs to them.
“Those who are stricken with grief
........have got it made,
................because they will receive the ultimate comfort.
“Those who allow others first claim on everything
........have got it made,
................because the whole world will be given to them.
“Those who hunger and thirst to see the world put right
........have got it made,
................because they will be richly satisfied.
“Those who readily treat others better than they deserve
........have got it made,
................because they will be treated with extravagant mercy.
“Those whose hearts are unpolluted
........have got it made,
................because they will see God.
“Those who forge peace and reconciliation in places of hostility
........have got it made,
................because they will be known as God’s own children.
“Those who are attacked and abused for sticking to what is right
........have got it made,
................because the whole realm of heaven belongs to them.
“When people turn on you
........and do all they can to make your life a misery;
when they make false allegations about you
........and drag your name through the mud,
all because of your association with me,
........you have really got it made!
Kick up your heels and party,
........because heaven is coming
................and you will be rewarded beyond your wildest dreams!
You are in great company
........because they were just as vicious
................to God’s faithful messengers in the past.