I know that everyone will be reading this on November 2, but when I write this it is still November 1. November 1 is All Saints Day. We will be commemorating the holy day in worship on November 7th. It is a day that has traditionally celebrated the formal saints of the church like Mary the Mother of Jesus, St. Peter, St. Paul, etc.
I am so grateful that this day has expanded beyond just the major figures in our faith and has evolved to remember and include all those who have believed and passed on to their eternal home. I believe one of the ways that this shift happened was when Martin Luther talked about every one of us being simul justus et pecator = at the same time sinner and saint. Luther recognized that we are always BOTH people of the world and therefore we are bound to sin and fall short of the glory of God AND at the same time saints that have been forgiven and redeemed by Christ our Savior.
That means that every one of us is a saint, so when we celebrate All Saints, we remember all those saints who have gone before us in faith. It could be someone like St. Patrick or Mother Theresa, or it could be someone who was an important figure to your own personal faith, and it could be a loved one who passed away and has joined Christ in heaven.
While I am sure that we remember those people of faith that are important to our lives, it is also important to take this specific time to remember them and celebrate who they were and now whose they are. I pray that you take some time this week to remember those who have influenced your faith and helped to shape the person that you are today.
I’ll leave you with this quote from St. Paul’s closing to the church in Corinth:
2 Corinthians 13:11–13 (NRSV): 11 Finally, brothers and sisters, farewell. Put things in order, listen to my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. 13 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.
Blessings,
Pastor Brian
