In the 16th century Christians adapted an age-old festival held on October 31, calling it “All Hallows Eve” or “All Saints Eve”.    They set this time aside to remember the dead, not in a spooky or scary fashion, but in a grateful manner for the lives they had led.  They remembered the saints and the martyrs, but they also remembered all the faithful departed.

There have been those over the years who used this as a time to pray to the departed, to ask the dead to intercede for them.   Well, our Lord Jesus Christ has done it all for us . . . we have the privilege of talking directly to Him!  We need no intercessor.

But personally, I don’t think this precludes us from pausing to remember some of those who have gone before us, and to express our gratitude to the Lord for the love and guidance they have given.  I think first of my own parents and grandparents, each a blessing to me in a different way.  As my mind wanders the list becomes endless:  pastors, teachers, writers, and back to the the Gospel writers themselves who gave us the incomparable story of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Lord, fill our hearts with thankfulness for all of these dearly departed.

Read Matthew 5:3-12, and remember: you, too, are God’s beloved.  You are “hallowed” or made holy by the loving, saving grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  You are loved by God tonight, tomorrow and forever.  God loves you UNCONDITIONALLY.

Judy

Today’s Reading: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A3-12&version=NRSV