All Saints Day is one of my favorite festivals. In the Lutheran tradition, saint simply means “baptized child of God.” Each and every one of us gets to claim that name.
It seems especially appropriate that All Saints Day begins the month we focus on giving thanks. All Saints Day is when we remember the dead, yes, but over time it has developed into a day to honor all saints, both past and present. What better way to honor them than to give thanks to God for their lives?
On All Saints Day, and hopefully many days besides, I give thanks to God. I give thanks for all those who have gone before me, and paved the way for my life, the church, and my congregation to be what it is today. I give thanks for all those who have modeled for me the diverse ways we can live out God’s grace in our lives. I give thanks that, in spite of the mistakes we still make, the saints-and-sinners that we are, God shines through and calls us back to love.
This message is excerpted from “Honoring our saints” by Michelle Terry in the October 2015 Cafe online magazine. Today is All Saints Day.
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