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November 1^st, which happened to be last Thursday, is observed throughout the Christian church, as All Saints Day. If that day falls on a weekday, then it is often celebrated on the nearest Sunday, as it is today and tonight. 

Tonight as we celebrate this feast Day, I want us to think about the question, “Who are the Saints.” and why do we remember them?

According to the Concise English Dictionary, it is very simple question :   “A saint is one eminent for piety and virtue; one of the blessed; a person canonized.”   That’s a very concise definition. But if it’s the only definition then I don’t think there is much chance of me ever being a saint – and probably not much chance of a lot of people ever becoming saints.  For the most part, ordinary people aren’t eminent for their piety or virtue – they are just ordinary fallible people.  So, personally, I’m not altogether happy with the Dictionary definition.  For a start, it doesn’t actually pick up the biblical meaning of the word.  The word “saint”, as used in the Bible, comes from the root word for “Holy”. The word Holy, has the meaning of being set apart, different, dedicated to God’s use. So the Bible often speaks about a Holy Place, Holy vessels or vestments, and it also speaks about Holy People – people who are dedicated to serving God. But a saint, first and foremost, is one in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, and through whom the Holy Spirit is at work. That’s why they are holy – God’s Holy Spirit is at work in them and through them. And as we know, God doesn’t wait for us to become holy – -He doesn’t wait for us to become  eminent for our piety and virtue, without blemish or taint of sin – before He begins His work within us , - God takes us as we are -  just ordinary, fallible, sinners. And as we make ourselves available to Him, he begins His work in us. 

So a better, more biblical definition of a saint would perhaps be - “one through whom God’s Holy Spirit is at work”.  That definition now makes it possible for all of us to be saints. And, in the New Testament , we find that is how the word was used. All the believers were called “saints” Everyone who has received Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Master, and has invited Him to lead and guide their life, is a person in whom the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit dwells.  And so they are justified in being called “saints”.

Well that’s a very general classification, and still relevant and useful for All Saints day, but generally we use the term to cover about four different categories.

1. We use the term when we refer to people who are referred to in the various Biblical Stories, especially in the Old Testament.  Interestingly, the second reading for tonight from the letter to the Hebrews – refers to many of the prominent Old Testament heroes.  Yet when we examine their lives – we see that they too were very ordinary, flawed and fallible imperfect people. They may have done some great things in God’s Name, but they were ordinary as well. They all had their weaknesses, and sin was common to them all, as it is to us.
2. We think of saints as those down the centuries from the time of Christ onwards who have withstood persecution in the name of Christ. We think, especially, of those who suffered for their faith.  Again, while the letter to the Hebrews refers mostly to the prophets and people of faith from the Old Testament, already the apostles and many disciples were being persecuted for their faith, and were standing firm in the power of the Holy Spirit. Often, on this day, we think especially of those who have been martyred for their faith.  Some commentators say there have been more Christian martyrs in the 20^th century than there have been in all the previous 2000 years put together. We call them “saints” who have born such martyrdom in the grace and power of the Holy Spirit- choosing to bless rather than to curse their persecutors. I think we would be much more appreciative of our Christian history and heritage if we gave more time to reading about the lives, and deaths of the martyrs who have gone before and , and of all they gave in their service of Jesus Christ. When I read the eyewitness accounts of how ordinary people, young and old, down the centuries, faced death gallantly and bravely under the most horrific circumstances – I often find myself choking up with admiration for their faith and their courage.  Perhaps these are the ones which the letter to the Hebrews refers to in chapter 12 as that great cloud of witnesses who surround us, and who, by their example, encourage us on our way.  So we refer to Old Testament prophets and heroes, New Testament and beyond martyrs as saints
3. The third group of people we often refer to as saints are those who have tried, and by comparing them with ourselves, have been much more successful then we have, to follow the Christ–like life and example of Jesus. These are people who seem to be outstanding for their devotion to Christ, their service towards others, and their lack of thought or care for themselves. To my mind  come names like St. Francis of Assisi,  - or more contemporary people like  Father Damien who from the 1860’s  to the late 1880’s  tended the lepers at the Leper colony on the island of Molokai in the then Kingdom of Hawaii, and himself became  infected with the disease.  Other names like  Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Dr. Paul Brand, another 20^th century amazing medical doctor who discovered the cause of leprosy and spent his life serving their needs, - to name just two others.   And there will be thousands of others who have sought to serve Christ through serving their fellow humans whatever their need. These people we look upon with awe and respect for their outstanding service to humanity -  and something within us recognizes their uniqueness which we can only put down to God being at work in them.
4. But then fourthly, we sometimes find ourselves referring to a person who has helped us personally in a special time of need or circumstance as “a real saint” . We recognize how fortunate we have been to have had their special help and care – and we also recognize God’s goodness which has come to us through them. We thank God for His Holy Spirit at work in and through them, and that we have been blessed so richly.

All of the above are those whom we can rightly call “saints”- the people of the Old Testament stories, those who have withstood persecution for their faith in Christ; those who have served especially the poor and the sick and the oppressed, even though it be to their own disadvantage; and those who have been instrumental in lightening our loads and encouraging us on our faith walk – all these are the saints whom we remember today.

Perhaps a concluding thought, though! If I have been so helped and inspired by others in my journey, how then can I best help and encourage others? 

Perhaps it just means being more attentive to their needs and condition, and taking the initiative when I can.   

Perhaps it happens automatically as I seek to know Christ more intimately and devotedly, and as I seek to serve Him more faithfully through loving and serving others. Perhaps then, the brightness of Christ’s light will shine more clearer through me.  Perhaps, then - through God’s grace -   I will be more worthy of the title of “saint”. Not because of what I may have done, but because of what Jesus Christ has done through me.