One of my favorite days to preach on (or simply to observe when I’m not preaching) is All Saints Day. It tends to be overlooked by those both inside and outside the Church due to its predecessor on the calendar, Halloween, and because of its fellow November holiday partner, Thanksgiving. But, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take the time to think about it! What is All Saints Day? It is a day in which the Church (emphasis capital “C” Church, meaning the Church abroad) remembers those who have died in the faith and gone on ahead of us to be with Jesus in heaven. This is not to celebrate especially good Christians, for they are not the only ones with the title of “saint.” No, every Christian, everyone who has repented of their sins and is trusting in Jesus, is called a saint. The apostle Paul, in most of his letters, refers to all the Christians he was writing to as “saints” (Romans 1:7, Ephesians 1:1, Philippians 1:1, etc.). So we remember ALL the saints who have died, whether we knew them or not. It is celebrated on November 1st, the day after Halloween, by pretty much every Western Christian denomination, and then observed by churches on the following Sunday if November 1st doesn’t fall on a Sunday.
How did All Saints Day come to be? Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly when All Saints Day first began to be observed. It was not always observed on November 1st, which is why it’s hard to nail down exactly when it began to be observed. The first evidence of it being observed on November 1st, though, was in the mid-700’s when Pope Gregory III dedicated a chapel in honor of all the saints and martyrs. From there, the popes who succeeded him kept the date, and it has stuck with us until today. The name “All Saints Day” has pretty much stuck with us since then, too, with one exception. In England, it was referred to as “All Hallows Day.” This is where most historians believe we got the name for our holiday “Halloween.” It became an abbreviated way of saying “All Hallows Eve,” the day before All Hallows or All Saints Day.
Why do we observe All Saints Day? As I mentioned before, we observe the day to remember the faithful saints who have gone before us and their example of faithful living. We do not observe it to venerate, or worship, the saints, like the Roman Catholic Church does. Rather, we remember the lives of the faithful by thanking God for their love, faithfulness, and witness to the truth, and by seeking to live according to their example of faith and good works. All Saints Day is also a great day to remember Christ’s victory over death. We know that the saints are not dead and gone forever, but are in heaven right now, watching us (Hebrews 12:1) and waiting with Jesus to return to earth on the day of resurrection. This is why it’s one of my favorite days to preach on! It is a day of mourning, to be sure, but also a day full of hope. We remember with fondness those saints whom we have come to know and love. We remember with grief that they have died and are no longer with us here. And, we remember with hope that they are with Jesus, and that they will return with Him because He has conquered death for them, and for you, too. This faith and hope then inspire us to continue living faithful lives, and we can look to the saints as examples of how to live that faithful life out (Philippians 3:17).
So take time to remember the saints, both the ones you knew, and the ones you didn’t, this month, friends. Remember to thank God for their witness and example, and perhaps seek to model their example in your life. Also, rejoice in knowing that they are with Jesus, our Savior and Lord, now, and will be with you, and all of the Church, again one glorious day when Christ returns to usher in His new creation and make all things new.
In Christ, Pastor Michael Onstad
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