For All the Saints

The festival of All Saints is one of my favorites of the year. It ranks up there with Good Friday and Easter Sunday in my book. To date, I have lost all four of my grandparents, two uncles, one aunt, and one cousin to the wages of sin. I have said goodbye to a good high school friend who died in a farm accident. And I have buried many beloved brothers and sisters in Christ in my vocation as pastor.

And yet, behind the sadness and tears of death is the comfort and joy of eternal life in Jesus Christ. I am thankful that each and every family member who is now six feet under was first baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection and, as far as I know, remained faithful to death. The same is true of the beloved saints I have buried from Mount Calvary, Saint Michael, and Divine Shepherd. They (like me) weren’t always faithful to God. But He was always faithful to them (and me) in Jesus Christ.

That is what makes All Saints such a beautiful festival. It’s all about Christ. Forgiveness, life, and salvation. The blood the Lamb. White robes. Palm branches. A multitude that no one can number. Tears wiped away forever. And songs continually being sung to the Triune God.

I cannot wait until tomorrow morning and our annual celebration of All Saints’ Day. The hymns. The liturgy. And Jesus Christ at the center of it all with His Word and Supper.

Below is a foretaste of the opening hymn, which will be accompanied by organ and trumpet, and sung joyously by a pastor and congregation who have been washed clean in the blood of the Lamb:

For all the saints who from their labors rest,

Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,

Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress, and their Might;

Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight;

Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,

Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old

And win with them the victor’s crown of gold!

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine!

We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;

Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the fight is fierce, the warfare long,

Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,

And hearts are brave again and arms are strong.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

The golden evening brightens in the west;

Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest;

Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

But, lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day:

The saints triumphant rise in bright array;

The King of Glory passes on His way.

Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,

Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,

Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:

Alleluia! Alleluia!

Lutheran Service Book