Short Talks
This section of the website comprises short stand-alone talks and articles on different aspects of the Christian Faith, including the teaching of Jesus, the seasons of the Church’s Year and Feasts and Festivals. More talks/sermons/homilies/articles will be added in due course.
The section of the website entitled The Christian Faith provides more extended teaching on larger content areas, such as the Creed and the Sacraments.
All Saints' Day
Throughout the Church’s Year we celebrate many individual, named Saints. But there are very many more Saints – men, women and children – whose names we do not know and who do not have a special feast day. They are among that “…great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages…”, from whose eyes God has wiped every tear, and who now see him face to face in the joy of Heaven (NRSV, Revelation 7:9, 17).
The cloud of witnesses
“Therefore, 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, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:1,2)
The word ‘saint’, and the kindred word ‘holy’, have undergone a shift of meaning over the years. Originally they both meant separated or set apart for the worship and service of God. So from early times the Jews had their holy places and holy days which were kept separate from common use and were dedicated instead to him.
Faithful unto death
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God” (NRSV, Matthew 5:8)
“Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life” (RSV Catholic edition, Revelation 2:10)
All Saints’ Day is the festival of all those who have attained the Beatific Vision, that is, those who at this very moment share God’s life and see him in his unimaginable beauty and splendour, and are filled with the eternal joy which that sharing and seeing bestow. That bliss, which is the intended goal of human life, belongs to those souls who have been so cleansed from every taint of sin that even the thought of doing anything contrary to the holiness of God has become unthinkable.