Today is the First Sunday of Advent.  This begins a new liturgical year for us.  We begin our journey toward Christmas … the Feast of the Incarnation.  We have the Advent wreath with one candle lit and one more will be lighted each Sunday until Christmas.  We even have a special calendar for this season.  That is how we see this season through the eyes of the Church.

A week ago Friday 130 people were killed in the attack by Islamic extremists in Paris.  It was a shocking display of violence in a city known for light and joy.  The world responded with deep expressions of grief and solidarity for the French people. 
 
However, since then there has been a hue and cry from governors and some presidential candidates that the United States refuse to offer a haven to Syrian refugees.  This is out of fear that one of them may turn out to be a Muslim terrorist.  And the rhetoric is not limited to those seeking to occupy the White House, or those who are sitting in state capitols.  One of our local politicians posted on Facebook this week: “As individuals we are to strive to live like our Savior. However as a nation, as a matter of national policy, we must place more value on American life than all other life.”  And he went on to say, “I am sorry that women and children are suffering in Syria. I really am. But I'm not sorry enough to risk my wife and children suffering here [by allowing Syrian refugees to settle in the United States].”

In today’s reading from Mark’s gospel Jesus and his disciples are in Jerusalem and the disciples are admiring the Temple. One of them commented on the beautiful stones and fine buildings dedicated to God, but Jesus’ response is that there will be a time when “not one stone will be left upon another.”  Then Jesus admonishes his disciples not to be “led astray.”   Jesus then goes on to speak of wars, and rumors of wars, about nations against nations, and earthquakes, and famines.  Yet, in the end, Jesus says, “This is but the beginning of the birth pangs.”

Every year about this time one of the selection included in our lectionary has something to do with money.  In one of the years of the three year rotation there is the story of the Pharisees trying to catch Jesus in a gotcha moment.  Jesus is presented with a coin with the impression of the emperor on it.  He is asked whether people should pay their taxes.  Jesus says “Give to Caesar’s what is Caesar’s, and give to God what belongs to God.”  Then, in another year, there is the story of the humble tax collector and the proud Pharisee praying at the Temple.  In Jesus’ eyes the humble but despised tax collector is the more faithful of the two because he gives his tithe from his heart.  And then, of course, there is the story we just heard.  It is most often referred to as the story of the widow’s mite … although our contemporary bible translations no longer call it a “mite.” 
 
We hear these stories this time of year because of the wisdom of those powers-that-be who decided on the lectionary.  They understood that it was usually in the fall that annual budgets for the coming year were being discuss by vestries and mission boards, and the annual stewardship campaign needed a good story to get things going.  So, this morning is a stewardship sermon!

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Today is All Saints Day.  It is a day set aside in the Church’s calendar to remember those who have gone before us.  And it is a day set aside to remember ALL those who have gone before us, not just those who might qualify for sainthood through the formal Vatican process.  I want to remind you that you are a saint by the one fact that you are a child of God, and that there have been saints in your life that have ushered you to this point in your spiritual journey … and that you just might be someone else’s saint.