All Saints

"I believe in…the communion of the saints.”

– Apostles’ Creed

Many Christians recite this phrase each Sunday. But what could it mean? We celebrate holy communion and we have heard of saints, so we might reckon that it has something to do with famous Christians of the past eating the Lord’s Supper. But we would be a bit off target if we did!

Rather, this phrase of the Creed points to our belief that all Christians, whether dead or alive, are united in Christ and so have eternal fellowship with God and each other. In Jesus, we are all made one, and neither life nor death can ultimately destroy this fellowship, or, to use the term from the Creed, this communion we have.

Christians celebrated this communion from the earliest days through a practice which might strike us as a bit strange. On the anniversaries of the deaths of martyrs (those who died rather than recant their faith in Jesus), Christians would gather at so-and-so martyr’s grave and have a feast! While they were sorry to have lost that person, they knew that she or he was not ultimately severed from them, and they celebrated the martyr’s entrance into heaven.

But over the centuries, so many faithful Christians had died that there were too many anniversaries and not enough days in the year! So the Church decided to celebrate the lives of all of the saints together on one day – All Saints’ Day.

Presbyterians (along with many other Christians) celebrate All Saints’ Day on November first or the first Sunday in November. And on this Sunday, Presbyterians do not just celebrate the Biblical saints and the ancient martyrs, but rather lift up all the faithful of every place and generation.

Still interested in All Saints’ Day? Take a look at these Bible passages.

-- Hebrews 12:1-2. How might remembering the faithful Christians of the past encourage us?
-- Psalm 116:15. How does God view Christians’ deaths? Does this alter our perspective?
-- Romans 4:18-25. The word “saint” is a translation of Biblical words for “holy one.” But who is a holy one and who isn’t? Take a look at the Apostle Paul’s explanation of how one becomes holy” (Paul also uses the words “righteous” & “justified” to express this).
-- Romans 1:17 & 8:27. Does the Apostle Paul seem to use the word “saint” to apply to all Christians or only to some?

(From November church newsletter)