The Communion of Saints

Devotional Reflection, Wednesday November 1, 2023

Proper 25, The week of the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

The Feast of All Saints

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings: (BCP, 1000)

AM, Psalms 111, 112: PM, Psalms 148, 150

AM, 2 Esdras 2:42-47; PM, Wisdom 5:1-5, 14-16

Heb. 11:32-40; 12:1-2; Rev. 21:1-4, 22-22:5

Daily Office Epistle, Hebrews 11:32-40,12:1-2

32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.

12:1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

David’s Reflections

The writer of Hebrews expresses feelings of a strong bond to the Old Testament heroes of the faith in today’s reading. He understands that those people of faith now are sharing in the full realization of the salvation they had hoped for and lived toward, a salvation accomplished by Jesus. The writer saw all believers having a vital spiritual connection with those saints. They were in union with Jesus in heaven, and the writer shared in that same union through the Holy Spirit, as do we. That shared union with Christ brings us into vital connection with those triumphant saints, a connection not unlike the one we share with our living Christian brothers and sisters.

We say each Sunday in the Nicene Creed, "I believe in . . . the communion of saints." In three of the Eucharistic Prayers our relationship with the saints receives mention, as in Prayer D: "And grant that we may find our inheritance with [the Blessed Virgin Mary, with patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs, (with _____) and] all the saints who have found favor with you in ages past." (BCP, p. 375)

The Outline of the Faith (Catechism, BCP, p. 862) defines the communion of the saints in this way: "The communion of saints is the whole family of God, the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt, bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise."

Each Sunday at Holy Communion, we join " . . . our voices with Angels,

Archangels, and all the company of heaven . . . " (BCP, p. 362). We sing the hymn referred to as The Sanctus together with those in heaven who forever sing it before the throne of God (Revelation 4:8). Linear time stands still in our liturgy and joins with eternity in the worship of God. We join in worship always taking place in the unseen world of the Spirit.

Not only do we join the saints in worship; we also receive encouragement and enlightenment from them about how to live, how to triumph over adversity, and how to be faithful even to death in the living of our faith and witness (Hebrews 12:1). Today, we especially remember in prayer our loved ones who have died, that they may grow more fully into the loving presence of God and realize more fully the bliss of heaven.

One such prayer can be found in the Burial Service in The Book of Common Prayer, page 493, “O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant (name), being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one

God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

©David W. Perkins, 2023.

For a brief description of All Saints Day with prayers and readings, see the web link http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/AllSaints.htm

Collect of the Day, All Saints Day

O Almighty God, who 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 indescribable joys which you have prepared for those who truly love you: through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (BCP, 245)

The Collect of the Day, Proper 25, the twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us the gifts of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 235)

A Collect for Peace

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)

For Knowledge of God’s Creation

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order, its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures: Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation, we may come to know

you more truly, and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose; in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 827)

A Prayer for Light

O Lord God Almighty, as you have taught us to call the evening, the morning, and the noonday one day; and have made the sun to know its going down: Dispel the darkness of our hearts, that by your brightness we may know you to be the true God and eternal light, living and reigning for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 110)

A Collect for Mission

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)

Daily Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer