Some of the most beautiful places and some of the best times I can remember have happened at or near rivers. I was born and raised some 250 miles south of here in place called the Rio Grande Valley. I can still remember my science teacher saying, “This really isn’t a valley. This is a delta. We live in a place made possible by the Rio Grande River.”
James Michener in his book, Texas, said that this part of the State was part of, “El gran desplobado.” Literally this means, “The unpopulated expanse.” The sense Michener was trying to portray is that this region could not sustain human life. It was a vast, empty wasteland.
And yet, even before I was born, and up to now there has been a string of cities that extends up and down that part of the State. From the southern-most tip of Texas all along the Rio Grande River, small cities and towns have sprung up. And here’s the interesting thing, these towns and cities generally follow the path of the river for which the region is named – the Rio Grande River.
I’ve had a love for rivers and lakes and oceans as long as I can remember. One of the things that I love to see is how bodies of water seem to give life to places they touch. Water teams with life. Fish and plants and other aquatic life abound just under the surface. There are streams in the Rio Grande Valley that meander through places that are dry as a bone. But where a stream flows through dry, dusty ground, a swath of vegetation is spawned on either side. Streams and rivers nourish trees and lush growth all along their path. Cartographers depict this on maps by coloring the region along rivers green.
But now I want to tell you about another river – a river more awesome than any other I know about. This river is different because it doesn’t depend on rain or melting snow to fill it. You see, the water that this river carries is no ordinary water. The Scriptures call it the Water of Life. It flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb – Jesus Christ. Let me read to you from St. John’s Apocalypse:
Revelation 22.1-5: 1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
Rivers are great because the life they give is a consequence of their flow. You see, the seeds that sprout to life, the dry parched ground that is moistened, and the trees whose thirst is quenched – these did nothing to bring upon themselves the blessing the river gives them. They are blessed because - where the water flows - life appears.
God’s River, the one that carries the Water of Life is no exception. We offer the river nothing. We bring our parched, barren lives. We bring the lifeless dead earth of a sinful human nature. We bring our brokenness and the fiery passions that destroy relationships.
And then that water comes to us. We don’t cause it to flow our way. It comes because God sends it. It comes because of God’s love. It comes out of pure grace – God’s grace. And it changes the landscape of our lives. Where once lives were parched and dry and barren – life is germinated – because the river flows. Into places where dust flew and death abounded – life blossoms – because the river flows. Where there were scorched relationships – especially with our God – the fires were put out and life came – because the river flows.
God has provided us with that life-giving water. And if we follow that stream of water back, we will find that it started to flow from a hill – a hill called Golgotha. An Innocent by the name of Jesus Christ was killed by crucifixion on that hill. He died on a cross after being brutally mistreated. The Bible says that, “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.” He was killed to make peace between a holy God and sinful humanity. When Jesus died, the earth shook. The sky was darkened. And the veil that separated humanity from the holiness of God was torn in two.
And when on a dark Friday afternoon this Innocent’s body was placed in a grave, his friends thought that they were seeing the last of Him. No thought of a river carrying life-giving water crossed their mind. He was wrapped in his burial shroud, placed in a borrowed tomb, and a large rock placed at the entrance. But on Sunday morning, light emanated from inside that cave. The light came from the radiance of that Holy One – Jesus Christ – Who came back to life. And the stream began flowing. It seemed only a trickle at first. And then, then the current in that river started to surge. It exploded and burst from its banks at Pentecost. Its water began flowing and carving its way through all nations and peoples. It has been washing people clean for generations.
And communities have grown where that river flows - communities of people who trust in the Water of Life. We don’t have to look very far to see these communities. They have sprung up everywhere that River touches. You might think that you would have to go to another place to see that river or drink of its water. But, no beloved, the river that carries the Water of Life flows right through this place. There – look at that Baptismal fount. Babies have been washed in the River’s water there. Look – it flows right from that Altar. We’ve been nourished by its life-giving stream there.
You see the water from that river began flowing at our Baptism. That Baptismal water brought with it forgiveness and faith to believe and trust God for life. That river flows through the Table at which we gathered today to receive the holy sacrament: the Body and Blood of our Lord – and with them forgiveness and faith. That water flows through the holy Word we have read and heard.
Now let me tell you why I think that it’s important to know about that river today. You see, today we are celebrating All Saints Day. Today we remember and give thanks for those people who have gone before us in the faith. We miss these brothers and sisters in Christ, because they are our husbands and wives, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, and dear friends.
But we know that they are gathered at the river. They are in a place where the trials are no more. Pain is no more. Troubles have passed for our loved ones. Our loved ones, dads and moms and husbands and wives - they are gathered by the River. They are gathered at the river as saints together with the rest of the saints from all time.
I love God’s river. It brings life! Lush growth springs up along the path where God’s river flows. And communitites grow along God’s river. Let me show you one! St. John writes:
Revelation 7.9-14: 9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” 13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes - who are they, and where did they come from?” 14 I answered, “Sir, you know.” And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Think of the names and faces of the ones that you love – those who have gone home to the Lord. Now picture them along the shore of this beautiful wonderful river that flows from the Throne of God. Try to imagine their joy and their peace. There is happiness there.
One day, one sweet day, God is planning a reunion at the river. It’ll be a day when the saints here – you and me – will be gathered with the saints of all time. Those who have gone ahead – our loved ones – will be there. The prophets and Apostles we’ve read about will be there. What a reunion – by the river – the river that then will flow from the throne of God and the Lamb. In the name of Jesus. Amen!
