The shops are full of rubbish trying to tempt us to part with hard earned cash for skeletons, bats, pointy hats and other such Halloween tat. Perhaps a sign of the ‘Americanisation’ of our culture but certainly an indication of a society that has completely lost its compass for the spiritual world. For the Christian the spiritual world is not about ghouls and ghosts but about the Holy Spirit who transforms and ennobles our weak human nature. That’s what we’ll be celebrating on the Feast of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls.
The feast of All Saints brings to our gaze the countless host of men and women who have lived the spiritual life to the full and now enjoy the life of heaven. The Commemoration of All Souls reminds us that the dead are not to be feared but loved and helped with our prayers. The wonderful things proclaimed in these two days are not to be passed over lightly.
Both tell us of the triumph of Christ over sin, evil and death. Both tell us of the power of his resurrection. Both show us where our real destiny lies. Let us ask the saints to pray for us, and let pray for our loved ones now departed. We can do so because we believe in the communion of saints – a community created by Christ that shares in his risen, healing love.