The saints praise God’s glory in heaven for ever. In their lives on earth they lived out the Beatitudes preached by Jesus. We are called to model our lives on them so that where they are we may one day be. Like them we will see God face to face.
Who are these like stars appearing; these before God’s throne who stand? Each a golden crown is wearing. Who are all this glorious band? Alleluia! Hark, they sing. Praising loud their Heavenly King.
I love the book of Revelation. It’s mind-blowingly strange, apocalyptic, full of imagery but at the same time chock full of hope. St John, while exiled on Patmos, was treated to a raft of strange visions and tasked with writing everything down. This forms the Revelation of John – God revealing the culmination of His plan of salvation. It’s filled with many mysteries about what is going to happen in the future. There’s rebuke, bizarre visions and the final chapters are of such beauty that one can only hope, and indeed know, that it all turns out all right in the end.
The first reading today is a section which combines warning with that hope. And it so beautifully references the saints, that great multitude that no-one could number. Makes me think about the great cloud of witnesses that Paul refers to in the book of Hebrews. That great cloud of witnesses we are united with the as fellow members of the body of Christ. This tells us that stories of the saints are stories for us; encouraging us to continue our walk with Christ, inspiring us and strengthening us when things get tricky.
So ‘who are these like stars appearing?’ These can only be the saints as seen by John in his vision, the faithful who have gone before us and who are not simply historical figures but living members of the body of Christ. John mentions the multitude that no-one could number, from every nation, tribe, people and tongues. This is the universal character of God’s people and underlines God’s promise to Abraham that from him, Abraham, all families on earth will be blessed. And it also emphasises that saints come from any nation, race or people. And what is the church if not the assembly of all the saints – the communion of saints. In the Eucharist we see represented, and brought about, the togetherness of believers who form the one body of Christ. Communion with fellow Christians, fellow pilgrims, brings us closer to Christ and communion with the saints joins us to Christ.
Who are these of dazzling brightness; these in God’s own truth arrayed? Clad in robes of purest whiteness, robes whose lustre ne’er shall fade, ne’er be touched by time’s rude hand? Whence come all this glorious band?
John writes of the ones coming out of the great tribulation having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb. It is difficult to understand how blood can make any cloth white but here we are hearing about the blood of the Lamb – Jesus – the world’s greatest purifier because it removes the stain of sin. White signifying sinless perfection – the great multitude of saints and martyrs, faithful Christians emerging from their struggles and entering into their heavenly rest of sinless perfection.
These are they who have contended for their Saviour’s honour long; wrestling on till life was ended, following not the sinful throng. These who well the fight sustained, triumph through the Lamb have gained.
The way of perfection passes by way of the Cross. We will inevitably face trial and tribulation – we will encounter spiritual battles great and small. We cling onto God’s love for us; we pray and keep our eyes upon Jesus with the hope that we will gradually encounter the peace and joy of living the promises of the Beatitudes which we heard in our gospel reading today. These are paradoxical promises that sustain hope in the midst of tribulation. They proclaim the blessings and rewards already secured for us as disciples of Jesus Christ and they have begun in the lives of the saints.
These are they whose hearts were riven, sore with woe and anguish tried. Who in prayer full oft have striven with the God they glorified. Now, their painful conflict o’er, God has bid them weep no more.
The process of canonising saints proclaims that they have lived holy and virtuous lives; living in faithfulness to God’s grace. The power of the Holy Spirit is at work, sustaining the hope of all believers by holding up the saints as people to aspire to and as inspirational intercessors. The process of canonisation can take many, many years and certain criteria need to be met in order for the process to be complete, not least miracles associated with the prospective saint. But anyone has the potential to become a saint. Two very diverse examples are Joan of Arc and Carlo Acutis. Both teenagers when they died but so very different. St Joan was a female warrior; St Carlo was a computer geek who played video games. Granted, there were a few hundred years between them, but that does not take away how very different they are. And not all saints feel the presence of God all the time. Mother Teresa experienced a profound, nearly 50-year sense of God's absence, darkness, and emptiness from the late 1940s until her death in 1997. And yet she continued her work of service throughout all this time. God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things.
These, like priests, have watched and waited, offering up to Christ their will. Soul and body consecrated, day and night to serve Him still. Now in God’s most holy place, blest they stand before His face.
During the Eucharist as we partake in the body and blood of our Lord, in communion with each other – this is where we fulfil our true vocation. We receive His grace which will sustain us along the paths of our lives. We join with the long history of the saints who have gone before us, who are now at rest in God’s most holy place, and who we celebrate collectively today.
All Saints Day allows the church to honour and celebrate all known, and indeed unknown, saints who have, during their lives and beyond, faithfully served Christ throughout history. Biblical figures, martyrs, canonised saints, unrecognised saints and our own family members who have gone before us to join that great cloud of witnesses, cheering us all on as we make our own way though this life. Those who we will remember especially tomorrow at All Souls.
The work of salvation and the holiness of the Spirit is manifested through the lives and witness of the saints. ‘The Spirit is truly the dwelling of the saints, and the saints are for the Spirit a place where He dwells as in His own home, since they offer themselves as a dwelling place for God and are called His temple.’ (St Basil the Great)
All Saints’ Day is a time to honour past Christians and be influenced by their examples. We can learn from the saints’ virtues, like faith and courage, and apply them to our own challenges. We are reminded of the communion of saints, encouraging us to support each other as believes. We are given hope and a sense of purpose. And ultimately, we are called to live lives of faithfulness, love, and service, following the saints’ footsteps and sharing God’s love in the world.