All Saints - 1st November 2022
The Nuns' Graveyard
At this Feast of All Saints we remember all those who have gone before us in the faith, both known and unknown. And that thought brought me up short – what does it mean to remember those who are unknown, those whose names and lives are not remembered but who have, in their own humble way, brought more of God’s love to birth in the world? There are many through the ages who have touched the lives of those around them yet are now forgotten. Even so I believe that their lives have left their trace, contributing to the growth of the body of Christ through time and space. As I hope that our lives too will leave their trace, whether or not our names are remembered.
Our hymn sings of:
All glorious saints with Christ’s true light illumined
And with his joy made glad,
Who see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
And know as you are known.
It goes on to mention ‘His prophets, martyrs, virgins and confessors, His apostolic band’, all those who gave their lives in notable ways, who ‘bore all loss’ to dwell forever before the face of God. Yet I think that the point of this feast is also to remember those who were not notable as prophets, martyrs or whatever. The notable saints have their feasts on their own special days and that is when we turn to each one for inspiration. Today we are reminded that all who are illumined by the light of Christ are glorious saints. That means all of us who have chosen to follow him, including you and me.
Our lives, and that of all followers of Christ should be marked by that same spirit of prophecy and martyrdom, even if not lived out in the dramatic and noted ways of the great saints. Each one of us is called to live prophetically, to live lives that witness to the values embodied in the life of Jesus and all the saints that have gone before. Our way of life should challenge that of the world around us when it is caught up in self-serving, unjust and exploitative ways. We are to live lives of love, open to the needs of those around us and welcoming those who are marginalised. For us in this community it starts with the way with live with one another and the way we welcome those who come to share our life, whether as guests or alongsiders. And not only are our lives to be prophetic, but the lives of those who come to us may be bearing a prophetic witness to us. Our openness to others is not to be that of ‘saints’ who already know it all, but the humility of saints who are a work in progress with much to learn.
There is a form of martyrdom in this as we are called out of our comfort zone to engage with God’s call in whatever way it comes. We are called to lose ourselves in service of others, to undergo little deaths day by day as we set ourselves aside, as we bear all loss to dwell forever before the face of God. We are called to let go our clinging to tried and tested ways, to the security of familiar expressions of our faith and to allow ourselves to be blown by the Spirit where God wills. That doesn’t mean we change everything and throw away our traditions – there is much we have inherited that is good and life-giving – but we must be alert to the ways we stifle the fullness of life to which God calls us in clinging to the security of rules and precepts.
Through the ages the true saints have been those who have been unafraid to live the truth of their relationship with God, however uncomfortable that has been for those in authority in the Church. In their own generation they have often been condemned but we now look back on them as prophetic voices calling the Church to a deeper following of the path of love in Jesus Christ. A living relationship with God will draw us onward in unexpected ways and we are called to step out in faith, as did the saints who have gone before us. Who knows where that will lead?
Such faithful following of God’s call is an impossible thing to do in our own strength, but as we come to know ourselves held in the infinite love of God we become more able to let go our own ways and to reach out in love to others. As we sing in our hymn, it is the Trinity who called and made perfect all the saints that we remember today, and that same refining fire of the Spirit makes us also pure and ready to share in the empowering vision of God:
O Trinity who called and made them perfect,
O infinite in love,
Make ready all mankind to share that vision,
Make pure, refining fire.
Amen
Mother Anne - 1st November 2022