This weekend means several different things to different people. As we discussed last Sunday, yesterday, October 31, was the date on which the Reformation began 492 years ago. Today, November 1, is called the Day of the Dead in Venezuela.
Not only in Venezuela, but in all of Latin America. The Day of the Dead celebration originated with the ancient indigenous cultures of the Aztecs, Mayas and others who for 3,000 years before the arrival of Christopher Columbus observed rituals in honor of their ancestors.
Venezuelans on this date honor the departed by bringing flowers to the cemetery to adorn the graves, which they also take the time to clean. There are no important rituals or feasts associated with the Day of the Dead outside of the privacy of the home. This is a charming custom, because it is not a sin to remember and pay respect to friends and loved ones who are no longer with us.
But in other countries we see another side to the Day of the Dead. For example, Mexico is famous for its graveside altars and offerings of food and beverages to the dead. In this case, people have crossed the line from respect to worship of the dead.
The First Commandment says, "Thou shalt have no other gods apart from Me." To worship or pray to the spirits of the dead is idolatry. Only God deserves our worship. For that reason, the Bible, the Word of God, also condemns spiritsim and witchcraft.
Furthermore, the Bible says there is an abyss between the place where the souls of the departed exist and our world. The dead cannot help us and we cannot help them. Prayers for the dead are useless, because they either are in heaven or hell, and we cannot change their condition in eternity.
It is possible that a demon, an evil angel, may talk or otherwise manifest itself through a possessed person in order to decieve us. But the fallen angels have no power to harm those who believe in Jesus Christ.
Here is another example of a false belief from another culture: In the United States, many people celebrate Halloween on October 31. The principal custom of Halloween is for children to dress up as ghosts, elves, fairies and other creatures, and walk around the neighborhood crying, "Trick or treat." This practices is based on a false belief that originated in Ireland, Scotland and England, that for one night every year, ghosts and other beings of the spirit world may enter our world and attack humans who do not offer them food and other gifts.
Without a doubt, this custom is problematic for Christians and also for the community at large. On one hand, it is not safe for children to accept candy from strangers, while on the other hand, many young people like to play tricks rather than receive treats, resulting in vandalism. But for us Christians, the most important thing is the roots of Halloween in beliefs contrary to the Bible.
Okay, here's a question for you: If it is not good to try and contact the dead, or ask their help, why does the church dedicate a day to all of the saints? In some churches in some countries, it is customary to read a list on All Saints Day of all members of the congregation who have died in the past year.
Remember, it is not a sin to remember those who have passed from this life. In the Lutheran Church, we respect the saints in heaven with Christ and remember them as examples for our own lives. But we do not pray to them or the Virgin Mary, or ask their help. Only God deserves such actions.
What's more, All Saints Day is not only a celebration of the past, it is primarily a celebration of our hope for the future. It is not a day of the dead, but of those who are living, now and forever.
In our Gospel for today, our Lord Jesus presents a model for the Christian life. Disciples of Christ will suffer many trials and difficulties for their faith without complaint or anger, because first in their hearts is the love of God and their neighbors. They do no live for themselves, but to help others and to work for justice and peace.
And our reward will be eternal life in heaven with the other saints. According to the Apostle's Creed, the church is the communion of saints. In the beginning the word, "saint", did not mean an especially good or generous person, without reference to their relationship with Christ. "Saint" truly means someone who belongs to God. So we all are saints because of our baptism. We all are saints because of our participation in the Lord's Supper. We all have the hope of eternal life with Christ and our brothers in the faith. That is why we do not fear ghosts or demons.
And that is why we do simply remember the past on this day, but anticipate the great, victorious gathering of the saints in glory, after the final judgment. We have a vision of this gathering in Revelation 7:9-12:
"After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."
And amen.
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