Old Testament: Daniel 7:1-3, 15-18
Gospel: Luke 6:20-31
Epistle: Ephesians 1:11-23
This week is All Saints' Day! So today it would be appropriate to honor that and call it All Saints' Sunday. November 1st (All Saints' Day) and November 2nd (All Souls Day) are two days in the church when we celebrate those who have gone before us in the faith and have led the way for us. There is a lot of medieval superstition and unnecessary secular/un-biblical traditions that have arisen concerning these days. As an example we need look no further than the secular notion of Halloween in the USA or something like Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos) in Latin American Cultures. The traditional holy days, like every religious holiday have been hijacked by the secular culture. However, we in the Protestant church also believe that the Catholic Church has gone too far and that there was a lot of synchronization in the medieval period that even they have lost the original meaning. We can see this by the fact that there are two days--All Saints and All Souls. Nov. 1st was a time to honor those who were Saints, officially "beatified" by the Church, or those who add obtained heaven already. Whereas Nov. 2nd arose as a time to honor and pray for those who were still stuck in Purgatory and maybe help them along on the path to heaven.
So there has historically been a lot of things wrong with these holidays, both ancient and modern problems. Yet the observance itself is quite old, perhaps as early as the third century, and truly has a lot to commend it in its purest sense. It is appropriate and good for us to look back and honor those in the Faith who have gone before us, be that from 2,000 years ago or even from our parents or grandparents. We can learn from them and find solutions to our modern problems. Hopefully, we can find ways to improve and not repeat the ills of the past. And we can also draw inspiration and hope. Of course, we can do this everyday of the year and we can sit around and reminisce about our family and ancestors, and we can read history books whenever we want. But there is something powerful about a community, in this case the church, intentionally and collectively taking time to the tell the story of faith.
To that end, this week I am only giving a very brief post and I want to mention a few of the saints and souls who I look to in my own life of faith.
1. My parents and grandparents who have been an example of what it means to be a Christian for these first 30 years of my life. They were the first and still the most powerful force on so many aspects of my life. I have my great-grandparents or even my great great-grandparents to thank for the heritage and tradition of being apart of the Nazarene Curch.
2. My in-laws and Kelcey's family who have shaped her into the women she is, but who have also modeled a Christian family to us in our own marriage.
3. Looking back into more modern history, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Monks of Tibhirine, Phineas F. Bresee, and C.S. Lewis, along with countless unnamed and unsung heroes across the world in the last century who have suffered or died for their faith. Often their stories are out there to find and share even if the names of the individuals aren't always known
4. Looking into more ancient history, I think it is important that we tell the story of early church and the Fathers. Names like Athanasius, Clement, Cyril of Alexandria, Clement of Rome, Irenaus, and Origen. Tertullian, Ambrose, Cyprian, and Augustine in the West. Again, there are also countless stories, relayed by some of these authors, of unnamed Christians who suffered for their faith. There are stories of Christians during the Roman Empire who stayed in the city and cared for Plague victims when no one else would. That type of love and sacrifice lead people to Christianity.
5. Finally, a name which I did not think would be on this list, is Lina. Last night my friend passed away. She was an example of what it means to be strong and faithful person in the midst of hardship and sickness. She will be missed.
This is just a a very brief list and I invite you to think, reflect, and educate yourself on some of the saints of the church. There is so much history to turn to and learn from: modern and ancient, familial and civic, big and small. The challenge is caring enough to do the research or talk to those in our families and churches who can share the stories. It can take work to learn the history and stories of the Saints and Souls of the church.
But it is worth it!
Grace and Peace.
3. Looking back into more modern history, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Monks of Tibhirine, Phineas F. Bresee, and C.S. Lewis, along with countless unnamed and unsung heroes across the world in the last century who have suffered or died for their faith. Often their stories are out there to find and share even if the names of the individuals aren't always known
4. Looking into more ancient history, I think it is important that we tell the story of early church and the Fathers. Names like Athanasius, Clement, Cyril of Alexandria, Clement of Rome, Irenaus, and Origen. Tertullian, Ambrose, Cyprian, and Augustine in the West. Again, there are also countless stories, relayed by some of these authors, of unnamed Christians who suffered for their faith. There are stories of Christians during the Roman Empire who stayed in the city and cared for Plague victims when no one else would. That type of love and sacrifice lead people to Christianity.
5. Finally, a name which I did not think would be on this list, is Lina. Last night my friend passed away. She was an example of what it means to be strong and faithful person in the midst of hardship and sickness. She will be missed.
This is just a a very brief list and I invite you to think, reflect, and educate yourself on some of the saints of the church. There is so much history to turn to and learn from: modern and ancient, familial and civic, big and small. The challenge is caring enough to do the research or talk to those in our families and churches who can share the stories. It can take work to learn the history and stories of the Saints and Souls of the church.
But it is worth it!
Grace and Peace.
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