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For ten
years I lived in the heart of the
countryside—in a village without street
lights or any public lighting at all (except
for the telephone box!). Journeying
home, late at night in winter was a journey
in darkness. Of course, I was familiar
with the way but I was always glad when,
every so often, I saw the lights of a
farm-house punctuating the darkness. I
knew all the farms by name so they became
little beacons to light my way home. I
think of that at All Saints’ time.
Our Church Calendar is punctuated by saints who have their special day of remembrance. We remember them not as ‘dead’ people but as people who are both, still alive in God, and from whose lives we can glean something of the Christian qualities we are to foster in our own lives. The Saints come in all shapes and sizes and their stories are all very different. Some will speak to you more than others and we might have our own favourite saints. They become our favourites because something in their life and witness speaks specially to us. However, they all have one thing in common—they show us a reflection of the love of God and in that respect they are holy because they shine with God’s glory. They can help to guide us on our way home to God rather like the farmhouse lights used to guide me to my Vicarage. Though the Church singles out particular saints we recognize that there are many others who do not have their own special day. Yet these too shine with God’s holiness and glory and their lives have something to tell us about our own Christian life and witness. Some, indeed, have been witnesses to us and in many of our lives we can point to people who were specially important in awakening love for God. We saw that love active in their lives and it made us want to be like them. These are our ‘personal lights’ whom God has put along our way in order to help us make our journey to him. “How bright these glorious spirits shine” we sing at the beginning of one of our Saints’ Day hymns and that is exactly how we feel about those who have helped us to see God. At All Saints’ time, it is these we particularly remember. Their holiness will only be known to a few—those like us who have caught a glimpse of it in them. They will, of course, be known to God. We celebrate them at this season of the year. It is a fond remembrance but it is more than that. It is a thankful remembrance too because of what we received from them. The best way we can truly celebrate them is to become like them—’Bright Lights’ for God in a darkened world |