Wearing Masks
Stories
Object:
Contents
"Wearing Masks" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Wearing Masks
by John Fitzgerald
Revelation 7:9-17
A lady went to the local post office on trick-or-treat day and by chance saw a little girl from her neighborhood. The girl happened to be wearing a ghost costume for Halloween. The lady pretended to be frightened upon this encounter and let forth with, "Oh my, I see a ghost." Upon hearing this, the little girl took off her mask and exclaimed, "Don't be afraid there is just a little girl under this mask."
As adults we become very adept at wearing masks. Our appearances can be off-putting and intimidating. Yet deep inside resides a little boy or little girl who yearns for love and attention.
One of God's gifts is to help us see each other without the mask. The Holy Spirit reveals another person's inward mind, heart, and spirit. One of the things I have discovered is that prayer time aids in this task of visualizing folks as children of God. It is a shame we do not take advantage of this opportunity.
It is no secret that some individuals are hard to love. They signal anger, hostility, and resentment. If only we could witness these prickly friends stripped of their masks and crying out for the same desires that mark our walk.
God's love allows ministering to each person as created in the divine image despite whatever mask they are wearing. This is the task for our holy day celebrated on November 1.
All Saints Day is an ancient tradition with roots in eternal light and love overcoming darkness and hatred. All Saints Day is in direct contrast with Halloween.
Halloween is a festival of darkness with evil spirits let loose on planet earth. The increasing days with lack of sunlight remind us of how things are without God's illuminating and life-giving presence. If it were not for the Lord Jesus, wickedness would have its way unrestrained in this world.
All Saints Day testifies to the power of God in bringing glorious light into our place of living. The saints who have testified to Christ throughout 2,000 years are set at liberty in vanquishing evil spirits that have haunted on Halloween. Sin is put in its place. Satan must return to the shadows and darkness from which he emerged.
There is nothing wrong for children to dress up in costumes on Halloween. It is an innocent act for our young people to go out into their community and beg for candy. However, we should steer clear of the carnal nature that Halloween emphasizes. For those of Christian faith, All Saints Day is the model we are to follow.
It is a wonderful to have saints throughout the centuries speaking in a personal way. These are God's voice of encouragement given for our sake in each situation. The band of saints ministers graciously to predicaments and says, "There is a way through with God's help. I found it in my time and you can to."
No one has it easy in this world, not even the saints. Days of trial and tribulation are hallmarks of what many saints experienced. These special agents of God teach us how to live with pain and difficulty.
All Saints Day is a reminder that throughout the ages God has found faithful witnesses. Our scripture lesson from Revelation makes this clear. The Bible says that in heaven there are God's saints chosen from "every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (v. 9).
The scripture goes on to tell us saints of heaven are dressed in white robes. This represents purity of divine light which has come into their life. Also, God's holy ones are washed in the blood shed by Christ at Calvary. In other words, these are individuals who have now received a reward for bearing the cross.
The glorious fulfillment of following Jesus is accounted for in the final verses of our Bible reading. This is what awaits those who are faithful to a living Savior and Lord: "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them; nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (vv. 16-17).
My hope is that you and I will realize this wonderful promise. I hope we can take the mask off and see each other as God does. The band of saints surrounds us. The hope of heaven awaits us. What is your response?
John Fitzgerald lives in Leesburg, Ohio, with his wife Carolyn and has served as pastor at the Leesburg Friends Meeting for the past 27 years. Cornfield Cathedral (Fairway Press, 2013) is the second book authored by Pastor Fitzgerald. John has earned a Master's of Ministry Degree from the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.
*****************************************
StoryShare, November 1, 2014, issue.
Copyright 2014 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
"Wearing Masks" by John Fitzgerald
* * * * * * *
Wearing Masks
by John Fitzgerald
Revelation 7:9-17
A lady went to the local post office on trick-or-treat day and by chance saw a little girl from her neighborhood. The girl happened to be wearing a ghost costume for Halloween. The lady pretended to be frightened upon this encounter and let forth with, "Oh my, I see a ghost." Upon hearing this, the little girl took off her mask and exclaimed, "Don't be afraid there is just a little girl under this mask."
As adults we become very adept at wearing masks. Our appearances can be off-putting and intimidating. Yet deep inside resides a little boy or little girl who yearns for love and attention.
One of God's gifts is to help us see each other without the mask. The Holy Spirit reveals another person's inward mind, heart, and spirit. One of the things I have discovered is that prayer time aids in this task of visualizing folks as children of God. It is a shame we do not take advantage of this opportunity.
It is no secret that some individuals are hard to love. They signal anger, hostility, and resentment. If only we could witness these prickly friends stripped of their masks and crying out for the same desires that mark our walk.
God's love allows ministering to each person as created in the divine image despite whatever mask they are wearing. This is the task for our holy day celebrated on November 1.
All Saints Day is an ancient tradition with roots in eternal light and love overcoming darkness and hatred. All Saints Day is in direct contrast with Halloween.
Halloween is a festival of darkness with evil spirits let loose on planet earth. The increasing days with lack of sunlight remind us of how things are without God's illuminating and life-giving presence. If it were not for the Lord Jesus, wickedness would have its way unrestrained in this world.
All Saints Day testifies to the power of God in bringing glorious light into our place of living. The saints who have testified to Christ throughout 2,000 years are set at liberty in vanquishing evil spirits that have haunted on Halloween. Sin is put in its place. Satan must return to the shadows and darkness from which he emerged.
There is nothing wrong for children to dress up in costumes on Halloween. It is an innocent act for our young people to go out into their community and beg for candy. However, we should steer clear of the carnal nature that Halloween emphasizes. For those of Christian faith, All Saints Day is the model we are to follow.
It is a wonderful to have saints throughout the centuries speaking in a personal way. These are God's voice of encouragement given for our sake in each situation. The band of saints ministers graciously to predicaments and says, "There is a way through with God's help. I found it in my time and you can to."
No one has it easy in this world, not even the saints. Days of trial and tribulation are hallmarks of what many saints experienced. These special agents of God teach us how to live with pain and difficulty.
All Saints Day is a reminder that throughout the ages God has found faithful witnesses. Our scripture lesson from Revelation makes this clear. The Bible says that in heaven there are God's saints chosen from "every nation, tribe, people, and language standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (v. 9).
The scripture goes on to tell us saints of heaven are dressed in white robes. This represents purity of divine light which has come into their life. Also, God's holy ones are washed in the blood shed by Christ at Calvary. In other words, these are individuals who have now received a reward for bearing the cross.
The glorious fulfillment of following Jesus is accounted for in the final verses of our Bible reading. This is what awaits those who are faithful to a living Savior and Lord: "Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them; nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (vv. 16-17).
My hope is that you and I will realize this wonderful promise. I hope we can take the mask off and see each other as God does. The band of saints surrounds us. The hope of heaven awaits us. What is your response?
John Fitzgerald lives in Leesburg, Ohio, with his wife Carolyn and has served as pastor at the Leesburg Friends Meeting for the past 27 years. Cornfield Cathedral (Fairway Press, 2013) is the second book authored by Pastor Fitzgerald. John has earned a Master's of Ministry Degree from the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana.
*****************************************
StoryShare, November 1, 2014, issue.
Copyright 2014 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
