Thoughts for the Day

When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.’ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. He said, ‘Where have you laid him?’ They said to him, ‘Lord, come and see.’ Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, ‘Take away the stone.’ Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, ‘Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead for four days.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?’ So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upwards and said, ‘Father, I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.’ When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him, and let him go.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Our reading shows us Jesus bringing Lazarus back to life, and gives us a foretaste of Jesus in all his glory. Today is 'All Saints' Day', also known as 'All Hallows' Day', when we celebrate all the saints, known and unknown. It's a day set aside to think of all who have lived righteous and holy lives in accordance with Christian teaching. Often we think about Disciples like Saint Peter, or local saints like Saint David (patron Saint of Wales), but the Bible also teaches us more about exactly who is a saint.

When the Lord calls Ananias to go to Saul and heal his blindness (Acts 9.1-16), Ananias says "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem." So a saint is a follower of Jesus Christ who trusts in him as their Saviour. Saint Paul was to write a letter to the Corinthian Christians with these words: "To those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours."

Not all saints were martyred, many were ordinary people living lives of faith and trust in Christ. Think back over your own life to those wonderful Christians that have influenced you. Today is a time to think of these as well as those more famous, to all who have been faithful, and whose lives tell of God's unfailing love and grace.

The hymn 'For all the saints', frequently sung at this time of the year, reminds us to look back and take courage from their lives. It calls us to "strive for the kingdom". Those of us who are still feebly struggling as well as those who have gone before are all one great host who serve God.

Collect

Almighty God,
you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you.
Amen.