All Saints' Day Thoughts

Today is All Saints' Day. The following is from my colleague, Pastor Glen VanderKloot of Faith Lutheran Church in Springfield, Illinois. (You can receive a daily emailed inspiration from Glen if you'll write him at pastor@faithlutheran.com and tell him so.)

Today is All Saint's Sunday. What makes a person a saint?

We think of people. People for whom special days, hospitals and churches are
named after. We might think of more recent people – people who have made
significant contributions to our world, Martin Luther, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Oscar
Romero who the people of Central America are asking the Pope to declare a
saint these weeks. We might think of Mother Theresa of Calcutta, the young girl
from Columbine High School who is reported to have declared her faith and was
shot as a result. We might even include a grandmother or grandfather, aunt or uncle.

A bishop of Sweden once said

"Saints are those who make it easier for us to believe in God."

Robert Louis Stevenson said, "Saints are sinners who keep on going."

A saint is one who is faithful in all circumstances, one whose identity is not
shaken by the daily circumstances, the ups and downs of life.

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Scripture Verse
Hebrews 12:1-3

Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us!
So we must get rid of everything that slows us down,
especially the sin that just won't let go.
And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.
We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes
our faith complete…So keep your mind on Jesus, who put
up with many insults from sinners. Then you won't get
discouraged and give up.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the saints who have gone before us and
provide examples of faith for us. Amen.