November 1, All Saints Day (Luke 6:20–31)
Jesus mourns a human existence unconcerned with the needs of the whole.
People on the ground. Weary, dirty, curious flesh—provocatively close. This is the context for the Sermon on the Plain.
The 12 disciples swell into many, and they hear about their past, present, and future. Jesus references their ancestors; he draws content from their current circumstances. And the question of who and where they will come to be bears weight in the sermonic veracity of this moment.
Jesus is preaching a truth: that the world and this life will always depend on the presence, movement, and impact of people. Huddled and crowded together or sitting on the grass or dirt of an open plain, the people are there. They have come to hear about this man important enough for the Pharisees to follow around and debate. His messages are making an impression. He is always meeting strangers, friend and foe alike. They are drawn to what he has to say. He is saying something that transcends time, that feels available to all.
