November 1, 2024

All Saints to All Stars

The word “saints” (in Greek “hagios”) literally means “holy ones.” Holy ones were considered to be all those who were baptized in water and Spirit into the church. Often a church would be referred to as “the holy ones” or “the saints.” (See Philippians 1:1, for example). The earliest Christians considered themselves, as well as their sisters and brothers in Christ, to be saints. But that has changed over the centuries. Today we tend to think of “saints” as sort of an elite group, a hall of fame of faith, Christian all stars.

This understanding developed in the early centuries of Christianity, as within each Christian community there would be women and men of faith who exemplified the faith better, or at least more obviously, than others. This was especially true for those who were martyred for their faith. Qualities of generosity, wisdom, spiritual giftedness, fidelity in the face of persecution, and exemplary leadership were all characteristics of faith that churches wanted to identify as worthy of imitation. And so when people with these notable qualities died, their stories would be recorded so future generations would have these now deceased saints as examples of a Christian faith worthy of imitation. 

These people and their stories would become what we now think of as “Saints,” and would soon be celebrated as such. Many Christians were often buried in catacombs in niches carved out in the walls of those underground caves. On the anniversary of a saint’s death, Christians in that community would gather in the catacombs, pray, read scripture, read that saint’s story, and then celebrate the eucharist. In this way they kept that saint’s life lesson alive and celebrated the fact they are still in communion with them. (It is this practice that caused some to speculate that Christians regularly worshipped in the catacombs when avoiding persecution.) This annual practice echoed that person’s funeral, where the Lord’s Supper would be served from their grave, celebrating their dies natalis or their birthday into eternity, and the people’s communion with them.

Over time local saints became celebrated by other churches nearby, and then churches far and wide. This only magnified the importance of these people. St. Nicholas from Turkey, St. Lucy from Sicily, St. Francis from Assisi, St. Teresa from Calcutta (Mother Theresa): people from around the world and across time who now have nearly universal name recognition. Sainthood is now akin to stardom. Because of this, I think we have lost something of the value of our local saints. In our case, those faithful women and men who, for more than a century and a quarter, have kept the light of Christ shining at First Covenant Church. Their stories of faith, the community as a whole and the individuals who were part of it, are the story we inherit as a church today, and we add our stories to it, passing it on to future generations.

This Sunday will celebrate All Saints Sunday, and remember five people whose deaths were grieved and lives were remembered and celebrated by our church since last All Saints Sunday. All Stars of the faith? Who is to say? But that they are holy and sacred people near to the hearts of our community, that we will all proclaim this Sunday. To them we will add those saints whose stories touched, shaped, or formed you as you bring their pictures forward and light a candle, keeping the light of Christ shining at First Covenant Church.

May we all shine Christ’s light like stars in the night sky, offering all people hope and direction.

As for me, this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…

~ Pastor Todd