We sang the song of Zechariah.Its words are so appropriate for this late afternoon when he speaks living in darkness and in the shadow of death. All Saints Day has us face squarely the reality of the death of loved ones.
He speaks of the tender mercies of our God. As Paul said, death is the last great enemy of the path of life. For Christians, God;s. Ruth read Mary’s song. Mary too repeats the word mercy.Her son would die, far too young. We hold that he broke down the gates of death as a permanent prison. Instead he opened the way to new life with God in a new place. great tender mercy is the afterlife in the presence of God.Saints in our tradition are not saints due to the perfection of their lives, but that they are set apart in the faithful holiness of Jesus Christ; they are part of a great house of the holy family.
Zechariah's name means God remembers, or better calls to mind. Memory is a foretaste of resurrection.-+Mercy is an old word and has the sense of showing compassion and grace.In Greek, the word is translated from God’s lovngkindness at times.
Halloween has us ridicule the spirits of death and evil with costumes and candy.Here we truly hallow the memory of the departed in this service.
Carrie Newcomer who graced us with her insight and music recently uses this time frame to construct altars of memories replete with prayers and photos of those who have touched her life who have preceded her in death.Week after week we read the Creed about the communion of saints. Yes, in baptism we are joined with all Christians. It goes further, especially this afternoon. The communion of saints moves past the door of death. God’s merciful energies allow us to continue to participate in the lives of those who go before us, Geddes MacGregor in The Rhythm of God tells of a priest who, when asked, 'How many people were at the early celebration of the Eucharist last Wednesday morning?' replied, 'There were three old ladies, the janitor, several thousand archangels, a large number of seraphim, and several million of the triumphant saints of God.' Such a 'cloud of witnesses' answers a deep human urge to be part of something larger, to not stand alone, to give our little lives meaning. One drop of water, left alone, evaporates quickly. But one drop of water in the immense sea endures."and they in ours. Love passes into prayer; we still love them; why not hold them, in that love, before God?”
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