“Saints Without Borders!”

“Saints Without Borders!”(Rom.10:9-18).
Today is ^All Saints Day,” and as we celebrate the day, we do not want to go into the polemics of how the concept of the veneration of saints originated. We do not also want to raise worries about the difference between the veneration of saints and the veneration of African ancestors.
Let us not also limit ourselves to saints of the church triumphans – the saints in heaven – but also the church militans – the living saints to which we belong.
At inception a canonized saint of the church triumphans was whoever as a matyr had by one act set the seal upon his faith, or whose life had been holy to such a degree as to merit certain miraculous manifestations.
The LORD says, “Be holy because I am holy.” And without holiness we cannot see God.
There is a sense in which we all are saints based on the condition that: “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God, it is by our confession that we are saved….This includes everyone…” irrespective of tribe, race or colour. “God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him. As the scripture says, ‘Everyone who calls out to the LORD for help will be saved.'”
Yes; whoever is saved is a saint to be celebrated.
Our celebration of All Saints Day will be impactful if we ensure that the people hear the message so that they can believe and call on the LORD.
My friend, the message can be heard only if it is proclaimed. How often do you proclaim the word by sharing these messsges with others? Remember that you are not going to be saved alone; otherwise heaven will be so boring for you. Be a messenger of the word; do not be a consumer only!
That notwithstanding, there are those who when hearing God’s voice harden their hearts. But that shouldn’t deter us. Many are called, but few are chosen. Strive to be among the few who are chosen, and help others to be in your company.
It is by our faith that we are put right with God…” and “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through preaching Christ.”
All Saints Day reminds us to be saintly in our daily walk in this journey of faith so that one day we will be with our Lord Jesus Christ together with all the departed saints who are now in the church triumphans.
Prayer: Holy Spirit help me not to harden my heart when I hear God’s voice so as to be counted among the saints. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Hapoy Saints Day and peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.