Happy All Saints Day

            Halloween, of course, is the Eve of All Saints Day.  In 609 A.D, Pope Boniface IV began All Saints Day in May.  The Roman church had canonized so many saints and established “days” for each one, the calendar was filled with celebrations for various Saints.  So the church established “All Saints Day” to consolidate the celebrations and to recognize all saints “known and unknown.”  In 735 Pope Gregory III moved the date to November the First.

            I don’t know how many saints had been canonized by then, but the Roman church did not canonize them all.  That is because, scripturally, everyone who is in Jesus Christ is a “saint.”  Throughout Acts and the Letters, all Christians are referred to as "saints.”  While certain individuals were sainted by the Roman church for exceptional ministry or exceptional sacrifice, only God knows how many, unheralded and unknown, rendered even greater service or endured greater sacrifice. 

            I don’t know any Baptists who celebrate All Saints Day.  But many of them really party on Halloween, from the children who go “trick or treating,” to adults who dress up in costumes, and many families that decorate their homes and yards as much as they do for the Christmas season.

            Maybe we need to begin to celebrate the following day. The old saying is every dog has its day or every person has his fifteen minutes of fame.  I assume in heaven we will know the merit of all the saints of God.  You, as a saint of God, may not have a special day in your honor, but you will be honored, by the other saints and the by the angels, for all that God is able to do in and through you.

            And All Saints Day is your day and my day.  Happy All Saints Day!

Grace and peace.