Make Time for Devotion
"When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come out!’ The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen and a cloth around his face" (John 11:43-44 )
This year is one of those rare years when the calendar date of All Saint’s Day (November 1) falls on a Sunday. Some Protestant Christians may balk at this liturgical feast day so I think it may be helpful to understand this holy day through the lens of the Mexican holiday, El Dia de los Muertos, literally, “The Day of the Dead.”
In Mexico and also throughout the United States, El Dia de los Muertos is a festival of colors and music that honor those ancestors who have joined the Church Triumphant. Those who are unfamiliar with the festival might think it strange or macabre that children play with toys and figures shaped like skeletons, but El Dia de los Muertos honors the dead by laughing in the face of Death itself: though Death may cause us to “pause,” we will all be resurrected from the dead through Christ Jesus. Just as Christ raised Lazarus, so shall we all be raised.
During Dia de los Muertos, family members visit the graves of their family “saints,” adorning graves with flowers and offerings of food. It is precisely this act of reverence and (often joyful) remembrance that should remind us to be ever mindful of the “communion of saints” and our own family members and friends that, having serving God faithfully in their lives, now sing God’s praises eternally.
On this All Saint’s Day, I invite you to take time to reflect and give thanks for the “saints” in your life. Who are the saints that have encouraged you, mentored you, and guided you? Who are the extraordinary women of faith that inspire your own faith? Consider lighting a candle, visiting a gravesite, or participating in an act of community service in honor of loved ones whose faith influenced your own.
Who are the saints in your life? Who has inspired your faith? Join the forum to share your thoughts on this devotion.
Prayer: Almighty and powerful God, the Alpha and the Omega, we rejoice that nothing in life or death can separate us from your love. We thank you for the multitude of saints we have encountered. May their love for and faithfulness in You be a model for our own spiritual journeys. In the name of the resurrected Christ we pray. Amen.
About the Author
Meredith Kemp-Pappan is the administrative assistant for the Office of Church Growth of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). A recent graduate of Austin Seminary, she has an M.Div. and is a candidate for ordained ministry. Meredith is also pursuing a Masters of Art in Spirituality from Bellarmine University. In her “free” time, she enjoys reading, knitting and expanding her culinary expertise.
Book Discussion
What books have inspired you in your faith journey? What book on theology, ministry or devotions are you reading currently? Share your top picks with other women in the forum!