Revelation 7:9-12

“After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.” vs. 9

What a blessing that the ancients saw fit to include the book of Revelation in the canon! Not only do its hymns provide the core of many liturgies, but its rich and vibrant images have tickled imaginations for centuries. Today’s verse, with its picture of the saints triumphant standing before the throne reminds us that our loved ones know the peace of God in new and unimaginable ways. It brings a powerful and inclusive message of hope and comfort. Tomorrow, All Saint’s Day, has been set aside in the Church’s calendar as an opportunity for us to remember these who now rest from their journeys on earth. Somehow, tonight, All-Hallow’s Eve or Halloween, has morphed into a holiday not even remotely related. What should have been a meditative evening of remembrance has turned into an apocalyptic experience of witches, ghouls, and goblins. There may be reasons for the transformation, and no one wants to deny children the opportunity to get treats, but it is a bit sad to see how the secular has overwhelmed the sacred. Chances are we can’t reclaim the holiday, but perhaps when the doorbell stops ringing we can take a moment to reflect on those loved ones that we miss so much…and maybe shed a tear even as we celebrate their new life!

Thought for the Day: What does Halloween mean to me?