November 1st marks a unique day in the Christian faith. Today is All Saints' Day.
In early Christian tradition, saints’ days began as a way to mark the anniversary of a martyr’s death — his or her “birthday” as a saint. By the middle of the church’s first millennium, there were so many martyrs (particularly due to the persecution of Diocletian) that it was hard to give them all their due. All Saints’ Day was established as an opportunity to honor all the saints, known and unknown.
All Saints’ Day has a rather different focus in the Reformed tradition. While we may give thanks for the lives of particular luminaries of ages past, the emphasis is on the ongoing sanctification of the whole people of God. Rather than putting saints on pedestals as holy people set apart in glory, we give glory to God for the ordinary, holy lives of the believers in this and every age. This is an appropriate time to give thanks to members of the community of faith who have died in the past year. We also pray that we may be counted among the company of the faithful in God’s eternal realm.
All Saints’ Day has been celebrated on November 1 since the year 835. Previously it had been connected with the Easter season as a feast of all martyrs.
Today, let us honor the saints, both participants and team leaders/members, being transformed by Kairos Prison Ministry...
We pray that they expose their lives, hurts, disappointments, and hopes.
God of compassion, hear our prayer.
We pray for safety as the participants go back to their cells.
God of strength, hear our prayer.
We pray that the team members realize their limitations.
God of wisdom, hear our prayer.
We pray that each team member has genuine love for the participants.
God of creation, hear our prayer.
No comments:
Post a Comment