Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9, Psalm 24.1-6, Revelation 21.1-6, John 11.32-44

Firstly, what is a saint?  I like Nathan Söderblom‘s definition: ‘Saints are those who by their life and work make it clear and plain that God lives‘.

Secondly, a word about dates: All Saints Day is of course tomorrow, Thursday 1st November, followed by All Souls Day on Friday 2nd November. However, most churches will be celebrating All Saints Day on Sunday 4th November, after All Souls Day, which is back to front but never mind…

This is what the RSCM had to say about today’s readings in ‘Sunday by Sunday’ 2009:

What a party! All the readings today…give us glimpses of eternal life – God’s people in God’s presence, cleansed and restored, grief and pain eradicated….

The Collect:

Almighty God, you have knit together your elect
in one communion and fellowship
in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord:
grant us grace so to follow your blessed saints
in all virtuous and godly living
that we may come to those inexpressible joys
that you have prepared for those who truly love you…

Wisdom of Solomon 3.1-9

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace…Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,and he watches over his elect.

Psalm 24.1-6

The earth is the Lord’s and all that fills it, the compass of the world and all who dwell therein…‘Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord, or who can rise up in his holy place?’‘Those who have clean hands and a pure heart…They shall receive a blessing from the Lord, a just reward from the God of their salvation.’

Revelation 21.1-6

I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.“

John 11.32-44

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”…Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”…When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”

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Let us pray to God, whose saints have witnessed to his glory.

The Church of Christ

May your Church, built on the foundation of the saints, be faithful to the teaching of Christ so that it reflects his likeness. Lord, as you enkindle the flame of your love in the hearts of the saints, grant to our minds the same faith and power of love; that, as we rejoice in their triumphs, we may profit by their examples.

Lord, kindle the flame of your love in our hearts; in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Creation, human society, the Sovereign and those in authority

Lord, we pray for those who represent us in government. May they be men and women of integrity, guided by a desire for public service and a love of the truth. May they also be just and compassionate, so that we may be led in ways of righteousness and mercy.

Lord, kindle the flame of your love in our hearts; in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The local community

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love. Where there is injury, pardon. Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope. Where there is darkness, light. Where there is sadness, joy. May we not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.

Lord, kindle the flame of your love in our hearts; in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Those who suffer

Lord, in the Garden of Gethsemane you shared with everyone who has ever been afraid. You conquered fear with love and returned saying ‘Do not be afraid’. In the light of your love death has lost its sting, and so has fear. Lord, may your love be the key that releases us from suffering and fear.

Lord, kindle the flame of your love in our hearts; in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The communion of saints

Lord, give us grace to follow in the footsteps of the saints, as they followed in the footsteps of your holy Son. Keep alive in us the memory of those dear to ourselves whom you have called to yourself; and grant that every remembrance which turns our hearts from things seen to things unseen may lead us always upwards to you, until we come to our eternal rest.

Lord, kindle the flame of your love in our hearts; in your mercy, hear our prayer.

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‘Give us the wings of faith’ by Ernest Bullock, one of the pieces of music recommended by the RSCM for today

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The prayers today are based on prayers from Mary Batchelor’s ‘The Lion Prayer Collection‘.

The illustration is Elspeth Parris – view her work Cradle of Light  via Twelve Baskets. Painting in response to Bible reading Hosea 11:1-10. God’s love for his wayward children. Reading Hosea I was stunned by the impact of the sense of myself as a hurt child (which I had been) and God’s loving care of me. The painting in response shows a child held, suspended, in a cradle of light, a cradle of God’s love.