All Saints' Day

The Collect of the Day
Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical body of your Son Christ our Lord: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

The Psalm
24

The Readings
Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 or Isaiah 25:6-9    +   Revelation 21:1-6a    +   John 11:32-44

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone."

The readings for this All Saints' Day feature death as a common theme. The Gospel reading about the raising of Lazarus from the dead, in particular, paints a scene of rising suspense tinged with ghastly details. It's a narrative that fits quite well with the macabre atmosphere of last night (All Hallows' Eve), but we might wonder about it as the Gospel for today's principal and celebratory feast.

When Jesus had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him and let him go."

The unifying key in all of these readings, and the reason behind their selection, is that their proclamation is clear: death does not win. In Christ all are made alive, for Christ has defeated the power of death to finally divide us. The pain and universality of death is acknowledged--it is the shroud that is cast over all peoples--and its stench fills our nostrils. But the shroud will be removed, and the Lord GOD will wipe away the tears from all faces.

And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new."  

Closing Prayer
O God, thank you for uniting us to your Son, that as we are drawn into union with your Christ we grow in union with all the saints. Help us, this day and every day, to know that nothing, not even death, shall separate us from your love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.