Knit Together

All Saints’ Day

For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesu, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

This holy day, as with every instance in which we worship, we join our voices “with Angels and Archangels, and with all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify thy glorious Name.” (1662 Communion Rite). This is a feast not to pray to the saints, but to praise God with them. They are not truly dead, but live. Recall our Savior’s wisdom, when He taught, “I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” (Matthew 22:32, KJV).

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might:
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

The saints of old and old saints who recently departed praise the Blessed Trinity with the same hymn as we in the Church Militant, crying aloud, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of thy glory: Glory be to thee, O Lord most High. Amen.” (1662 Communion Rite, see also, Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). The Church Triumphant and Church Militant are not two churches, for there is one Church, one body, of Christ Jesus. We are not as separated as it may appear in the here and now. For though our sight of our beloved saints is diminished in the flesh, by the Spirit our voices are one as the Church is one.

The most gracious “almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son,” reminds us every time we receive the broken body and blood of Jesus, we are being ever more united to Christ, and therefore to the saints triumphant. (Collect of the Day). Do you recall those saints of old? They are battle-born in Christ and have fought the good fight. Now we are called to follow after them in Jesus. Onward, dear Christian soldier, onward!

O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

The stories of faithful saints, both within the Scriptures and after Christ’s Ascension, belong to us, for we belong to Christ. We are members of the same mystical body. Therefore, this day learn your family history! Share in the tales of faithful saints who slew the dragons of sin, death, and the devil in their own lives. Be inspired, and be ye filled in the same Holy Spirit who animates Christ’s body, the Church.

You have been incorporated into Israel; therefore, the story of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob is your story!

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-9, KJV).

Sojourn after Abraham, who followed Christ faithfully. Do not tarry, weary sinner, and do not give up along the Way, o saint! Christ’s Advent is nearer this feast day than ere before! Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, “they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:16). This city is the heavenly Jerusalem, which shall descend, and Lo! so too shall He come with clouds descending. Do you feel it in your bones? Is not your soul brought to new life?

O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

We are so weak in the bodies of old Adam, yet our frailty is met by Christ’s strength and vigorous Holy Ghost. The Day of the Lord is coming, when our dry bones and those of the saints before shall reanimate and be enfleshed once more, never to die no more. Oh, what a glorious reunion it shall be for all of us who mourn the dear saints who have faithfully departed. Yet, such a reunion will be with the Savior who wipes away all tears. We saints militant celebrate this feast for we hear the unbroken Word of the Promise-keeper, who tells us, “He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 25:8).

What a great Promise-keeper we serve, for what He promised in Isaiah, He delivered in the New Covenant; therefore, now we await the fulfillment of the resurrection of the dead and the reunion face-to-face of the Church militant with the triumphant. On that glorious Advent of our Lord Jesus, “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” (Revelation 21:4).

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

The battle on this side of the Jordan is fierce. There are giants and demons to be slayed and cast out. Pray, dear Church militant, pray to the Father that He will “Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys, which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Collect of the Day). Christ walked with Enoch; He walks with you. Christ shut Noah into the ark; He seals you in His Church. Christ saved Moses from Pharaoh’s hand; He saves you now from Satan’s. Christ fought before Joshua; He conquers before you.

Christ even in this moment sees the multitudes. He saw them upon the mountain in today’s Gospel lesson, and He shared the Gospel amidst the people’s suffering for His sake. (Gospel lesson, Mathew 5:1-2). He sees presently your suffering and the cries of the Church Triumphant, “How long, O lord?” (Revelation 6:10). Christ comforts His people, telling us wondrous beatitudes. Those who suffer, as He suffered upon the earth, shall be blessed.

Are you poor in spirit? Christ was poor in riches. He shall bless you with His Spirit, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3). Do you mourn this hour? Christ comforts you with His wounded hands. (Matthew 5:4). Are you patient and awaiting His Advent in meekness? Brother, you “shall inherit the earth” made anew. (Matthew 5:5). Is your soul parched after a taste of righteousness? Christ shall fill you up. (Matthew 5:6). Do you temper justice in the name of mercy? Christ shed His blood to cover you with Divine mercy. (Matthew 5:7). Little saints, your hearts are pure, and as your angels see God’s face, someday you “shall see God” as well. (Matthew 5:8). Old saints, are you making peace so brothers may dwell in unity together? You are younger than your years betray, for you “shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9).

The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;
Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

Oh, but Satan, that great dragon, has fallen from the sky and seeks to make the earth a ruin. (Revelation 12:9). Even so, though the battle rages on earth, the Conqueror reigns in heaven. Though Satan and his demons be cast upon the earth and “he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child,” (Revelation 12:13) heaven bellows with the pronoucement, “Now is come salvatoin, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is case down, which accused them before our God day and night.” (Revelation 12:10). The enemy has been expelled and his accusations carry no weight against the Church Triumphant, but what of us in the Church Militant?

We overcome the enemy just as they did. “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:11). Therefore, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10). Yea, fellow men shall demean, deny, and destroy you, but “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” (Matthew 5:11). Why? Because they killed the saints of old and persecuted them, so too shall they do the same to you. If the Master was not spared but suffered upon the Cross, then we too must take up “the sign of the Cross, in token that hereafter he shall not be ashamed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, and manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, the world, and the devil; and to continue Christ’s faithful soldier and servant unto his life’s end. Amen.” (1662 Baptism of Infants Rite).

Along with St. Paul, who was redeemed to suffer much for Christ’s sake, let us make our daily aim echo his words: “From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.” (Galatians 6:17).

But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Allleluia!

The battle is nearly over, and the war is certain won. The worse Satan and his minions can do is kill the body, but not our soul. They may take this flesh, but Christ shall raise it up anew! Therefore, “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” (Matthew 5:12).

Join now with voices raised the reunited Israel, who are “the sealed servants of our God in their foreheads.” (Epistle lesson, Revelation 7:3). The twelve tribes shall be reunited in perfect number and perfect harmony. There is neither Jew nor Greek, but only One Church in Christ. Open your eyes even today at holy communion, and witness a divine miracle. Heaven and earth pass away but for a moment. The veil between the two realms is pulled back for a moment, as our voices join the Angelic host and the triumphant saints of heaven.

If you are quiet in your heart, perhaps you hear them singing aloud with you. It may come as a whisper for now, but on that great Day, “lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb”! (Revelation 7:9-10).

Feast O Church! Feast heavenly angels above and feast all ye creatures below! Feast O Church embattled and feast O Church victoriously praising! “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalm 95:6), saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 7:12).

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia! Allleluia!