In his groundbreaking book, “Jesus and the Disinherited”,  Howard Thurman tells how his grandmother, Nancy Ambrose and his mother were both born into slavery in the American South.  When his mother died, Thurman’s grandmother Nancy Ambrose raised Howard.  One of Thurman’s regular chores was reading the Bible aloud to his grandmother, who could neither read nor write.  Mrs. Ambrose was very particular about what she asked young Howard to read; Isaiah, the Psalms, and always a selection from the Gospels, but never Paul’s letters.  One day, Howard asked his grandmother why she never let him read from Paul. Her answer deeply shaped Thurmond’s faith 

 “During the days of slavery, the master’s minister would occasionally hold services for the slaves. Old man McGhee was so mean that he would not let a Negro minister preach to his slaves. Always the white minister used as his text something from Paul. At least three or four times a year he used as a text: ‘Slaves, be obedient to them that are your masters… as unto Christ.’…  I promised my Maker that if I ever learned to read and if freedom ever came, I would not read that part of the Bible.”

In her marvelous book, “In My Grandmother’s House: Black Women, Faith and the Stories We Inherit”, Yolanda Pierce, Dean of the Divinity School at Vanderbilt shared how Nancy Ambrose’s story became part of her own faith story.  “When reading Thurman for the first time, I was struck by the audacity and courage of his grandmother in rejecting the parts of the Christian canon that had harmed her and justified her bondage. In fact, it was Nancy Ambrose— a woman who had known the bitterness of chattel slavery-who gave me permission to do what my own grandmother could not have done: find a way to love the Bible and to love my Blackness…(Nancy Ambrose) Having already known a human master, rejected slaveholding language for her personal theology. She had been set free, and she was free indeed.”  After sharing how Nancy Ambrose shaped her grandson Howard Thurmod’s life, Dean Pierce then shares how Dr Thurmond mentored Dr Martin Luther King and other Civil Rights leaders as Dean of Rankin Chapel at Howard University.  Peirce closes the chapter sharing “There are civil rights we have today because Thurman’s grandmother was bold enough to say that simply because it is in the Book does not mean that is for me.”   Today, on All Saints Day we remember people near and dear to us, but also perhaps unknown saints like Nancy Ambrose, whose witness helps heal our world . 

On All Saints Day we remember people’s lives: their stories, insights, and experiences. Is not the Bible full of people’s stories?  Saints or “Hagioi: is Greek with roots in the word “holy”. Amy Jill Levine defines it “those set apart to God as holy ones”.  The Apostle Paul often refers to everyday folks like us as “saints”. In Romans 16:5 Paul writes “Greet Philologus, Julia, Perseus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them”. We might render that “Greet, Heather, Matt, Emma and all the saints at Belmont”  Look around this morning- do you see the saints sitting around you? When you listen to the memorial roll, will you remember the light the saints shone on our path? At communion will you light a candle and remember your own cloud of witnesses? Sometime today, would you ask someone: who is in your cloud of witnesses, and then listen as they tell of God’s people  in their lives? 

As Americans we like to argue about who is the greatest and we tend to believe that titles like “ saint” need to be earned . It is our idolatry that values completion over community and winning over welcoming.  Our baptism declares that holiness is not earned by us but given freely by God:  “we are incorporated into God’s mighty acts of salvation and given new birth through water and the Spirit. All this is God’s gift, offered to us without price”   Perhaps saints simply are those who by prayer, striving, failing and trying again align their living with Christ. God lavishes grace on us, and when we allow God’s love to flow through us, God’s Love comes to shape our decisions and attitudes so that little by little we become the saints God created us to be.  

The writer of Hebrews takes the whole of chapter eleven to recount the stories of a few saints. Again, Is not the Bible a book filled with the stories of God showing up in people’s lives? Hebrews 11 memorial role lifts up some very imperfect people: Abram, Sarah, Jacob, Esau, Isaac, Moses, and Rahab. We are not supposed to do many of the things Abraham or David did, and yet at times God shines through them. Indeed,  even in failure these saints remind us that God never gives up on us. 

So who is in your cloud of witnesses?  If I had time, I would go to tell you about my mom and dad, Mrs Rose Mckey, John Wesley… . The writer is tempted to add more stories: “What more can I say? I would run out of time if I told you about…!”  Instead of sharing more, maybe we need to ask “Who is in your cloud of witnesses? Light a candle today, share with someone that question! 

After remembering these messy saints, the writer declares “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith!”

Today, we remember the stories of our church mothers, fathers, aunts, teachers, preachers, saints and sinners, who imperfectly shone some holy light on our paths.  Indeed, if our hope wanes this week and we begin to feel our nation is at an all time low, perhaps we might remember the witness of people like Nancy Ambrose, Howard Thurman, or Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King. Perhaps, we might gain perseverance and perspective from remembering such witnesses?   

All Saints Day is not just a day to look back on those who have gone before us. Our passage calls each of us to run the race that is right under our feet. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses… let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith!” Remember your spiritual ancestors, let their stories inspire you.  But run your race. Do not run looking backwards thinking the best days are behind you, focus ahead, focus on the road ahead, focus on God’s upward call, on Jesus who perfects our faith.  

In Matthew 17, Mark 9 and Luke 9 Jesus begins to teach the disciples about the way of the cross, about suffering, betrayal and rejection. Peter is horrified by this message. Jesus takes Peter, James and John up on a mountain to pray and there is this miraculous moment where everything bathed is in heavenly light. Elijah and Moses come and talk to Jesus. We only get to imagine their conversation. It has always intrigued me that God sent Moses and Elijah, leaders who knew how hard the truth can be, not folks like King Solomon or Jacob who somehow tended to land on their feet.  Maybe Jesus and Moses talked about the moments when Moses felt like he could not take another step? Maybe they all wept together?  Maybe Elijah and Moses said “run the race, Focus on justice, love and liberation! Do not fear Pharaoh, Kings, or Caesar.  Stay focused and know we are running with you.”      

 I doubt that Nancy Ambrose imagined her grandson teaching Doctor King and Dr King preaching to the nation on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial- like a modern day Moses. I doubt she dreamed of a Vanderbilt Dean writing about her faith. Who knows, I hope she did.  Nancy Ambrose kept moving.  She kept her eyes set on Jesus, “the author and perfecter of her faith”.  And she kept her eyes set on her grandson Howard. 

Be mindful of those running alongside you and those coming along behind you: they need your light, the world needs your witness. People may need to see you moving when they are ready to give up.  “You are a city on a hill, you are the light of the world, shine your light- let the world see your good works and find their way to God” (Jesus) 

Remember the cloud of witnesses that goes before you, remember their struggle and joys. Persevere. Remember, how they overcame and endured. Be mindful of those runners beside you, maybe they are weary and need you to help them stand. Maybe others will come and lift you up. Remember, we do not run alone. Remember those who come on behind you- keep shining your light- keep bearing witnesses.  Keep running your race until you take your place in that Great Cloud of Witnesses. Remember, who you belong to, fix your eyes on Jesus, and keep running.  Amen