Not Solo and No Halo
On this Friday before All Saints Day, I wanted to stress two favorite themes I keep in mind for this amazing Christian festival of the Church year. The first theme has to do with saints having humility and no pretensions, and the second is about the communion of saints that we attest to in one of our ancient creeds. I won’t rank Holy Days in order of importance, because why compare? It is my hope that to the three major festivals of the Christian year - Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost, you will also cherish this fourth, All Saints. The glorious mysteries of wondrous fulfillment in the four should be articulated:
Christmas—assumed into life in God through the Incarnation – The Word made flesh
Easter—rescued from sin and death through Christ’s Resurrection
Pentecost—empowered for representing Christ everywhere by the Spirit outpoured
All Saints—included in the family of those set apart by our baptismal birth into Christ
What glorious realities to celebrate! Now, on to detailing the two points about All Saints Day… Remember, that besides the celebration of holding up figures from church history we notably recognize as saints, it is about saints nobody remembers, and it is about you who are also set apart for holy living as a member of Christ’s Body.
One thing we must remember when we think of saints is, they are not celebrities. If saints are celebrated at all in their own lifetime, they do not believe their own press. They are more mindful of the progress they need to make than they are of the virtues others see in them. The halo or “nimbus” over their head is only a symbol used in art. There is nothing hovering over them as they live and move; they do have weight on their shoulders urging them on to the labor of virtuous and godly living. The grace of God has saved us already has afforded us the privilege of working out our salvation. As Paul said to the infant church in Philippi, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” (Philippians 12:2). In the Collect for All Saints, we ask God to give us grace, follow the blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys God has prepared for us.
My point is, the saint is focused on diligence and humility. The saint is more aware of his or her sinfulness than on any credit for godliness. Saints are too busy on personal work to compare themselves to others. I wrote this little free verse thing twelve years ago:
THE SAINT
no nimbus; no nimble walk in godliness
just struggle and strain to see and do
things that give life
striving for what is clearly good in daily matters
stumbling around
in the gritty context of the mundane
light on delusions of goodness
heavily aware of challenges and flaws
the saint is the last to sense her saintliness
the first so see his foibles - DWP+ Oct 25, 2008
The other theme that stands out for me on All Saints Day is the beautiful reality we are in a magnificent family that stretches around the world, back through history, and is moving into eternity. Very importantly, we are in a family of faith, a community of support in the here and now. We do better in a team of love and prayer. I wrote this sonnet recently in advance of worries for a literal storm, but it metaphorically applies to all the storms that come our way. We do have them, and we need help from our community, and reminders we can put our full trust in the God of love. May God bless you and keep you in these days leading up to All Saints Day and the week following. Love, to you all.
BRACE FOR IT
May those who stand to see the winds blow strong
and those who see the tidal surges rise
survive to see fury move along
rejoice to see the subsequent sunrise.
And if there is recovery to do,
rebuilding and a cleanup effort, long
may good hearts come together, form a crew
to work, and raise their voice in hopeful song.
We cannot make it on our own in life.
Community stands as the better way.
How else can we endure the greatest strife?
How else can God's love truly win the day?
So pray, as wind and rain and black clouds form;
let faithful hearts trust God before the storm. - DWP+ Oct 9, 2020
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.