1 November 2022 Anno Domini
The Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great.” (Revelations 19:1-5; all scripture quoted is from the King James Version)
This is the day we observe following Reformation Day. From a spiritual point of view, our genealogy is an important matter to consider. All Saints Day helps to bring into focus the greater spiritual descent from our spiritual Father Abraham as opposed to that legal descent from the bondage of Hagar. “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. 26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:23-29)
If we are the children of the faith who have believed in that Promised Seed of Abraham, then are we the elect of God. There are many who are descended from Abraham’s bloodline who remain lost and under the law.
All Saints Day calls to remembrance the Church Victorious. All saints (true believers in Christ) from Abraham to today we remember in love and gratitude. We remember their testimony as well as their good works and try to emulate their good example. Those good works are on deposit beyond the Gates of Splendor. “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Revelations 14:13)
All Saints Day is a good time to remember our loved ones who died in the Lord, and all the great Christian men and women who lived before us including, for the Anglican Orthodox Communion, such saints as Bishop James Parker Dees, Mrs. Betty Hoffman, Mrs. Arwyn Dallis, and Mr. Dick Schoenmann (plus a plethora of other dear souls of years gone by).
The saints we commemorate on All Saints Day were by no means perfect men and women in righteousness, but men and women whose faith annulled every desire to sin with intention. Their faith was strong to lead them in the paths of righteousness while still depending upon the mercy and grace of God to sustain them in their frailty. May many more such Christians be spawned in these latter days of the Church.
