We are ALL Saints. Think of the Church of Corinth- a church with sin, immorality, heresy, factions, with spiritually immature members- Paul calls them "saints." (2 Corinthians 2.1). You were a sinner, the Bible calls you a Saint! By our baptism and participation in the Eucharist, we are joined to Christ and to all Christians everywhere, and from all time, in one body, one Church. - Lance++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The Collect for All Saints
O ALMIGHTY God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Psalmody
Blessed is the man who does not guide his steps by ill counsel, or turn aside where sinners walk, or, where scornful souls gather, sit down to rest; 2 the man whose heart is set on the law of the Lord, on that law, day and night, his thoughts still dwell. 3 He stands firm as a tree planted by running water, ready to yield its fruit when the season comes, not a leaf faded; all that he does will prosper. 4 Not such, not such the wicked; the wicked are like chaff the wind sweeps away. 5 Not for the wicked, when judgement comes, to rise up and plead their cause; sinners will have no part in the reunion of the just. 6 They walk, the just, under the Lord’s protection; the path of the wicked, how soon is it lost to sight!
- Psalm 1, Knox
Who is it, Lord, that will make his home in thy tabernacle, rest on the mountain where thy sanctuary is? 2 One that guides his steps without fault, and gives to all their due; 3 one whose heart is all honest purpose, who utters no treacherous word, never defrauds a friend, or slanders a neighbour. 4 He scorns the reprobate, keeping his reverence for such as fear God, and is true, come what may, to his pledged word; 5 lends without usury, and takes no bribe to condemn the innocent. He who so lives will stand firm for ever.
- Psalm 14 (15), Knox
First Lesson
But the souls of the just are in God's hands, and no torment, in death itself, has power to reach them. 2 Dead? Fools think so; think their end loss, 3 their leaving us, annihilation; but all is well with them. 4 The world sees nothing but the pains they endure; they themselves have eyes only for what is immortal; 5 so light their suffering, so great the gain they win! God, all the while, did but test them, and testing them found them worthy of him. 6 His gold, tried in the crucible, his burnt-sacrifice, graciously accepted, they do but wait for the time of their deliverance; 7 then they will shine out, these just souls, unconquerable as the sparks that break out, now here, now there, among the stubble. 8 Theirs to sit in judgement on nations, to subdue whole peoples, under a Lord whose reign shall last for ever. 9 Trust him if thou wilt, true thou shalt find him; faith waits for him calmly and lovingly; who claims his gift, who shall attain peace, if not they, his chosen servants?
- Wisdom 3.1-9, Knox
Second Lesson After this I heard, as it seemed, the voices of countless multitudes crying out in heaven, Alleluia; salvation and glory and power belong to our God; 2 his sentence is ever true and just, and now he has given sentence against the great harlot, who poisoned the earth with her harlot’s ways; now he has called her to account for the blood of his servants. 3 And again they cried, Alleluia, the smoke of her burning goes up everlastingly. 4 Then the twenty-four elders and the four living figures fell down and worshipped God, where he sits enthroned, crying, Amen, Alleluia. 5 And a voice came from the throne, which said, Praise our God, all you that are his servants, and all you that fear him, little and great alike; 6 whereupon I heard, as it seemed, the noise of a great multitude, like the noise of water in flood, or the noise of deep thunder, as they cried out, Alleluia, the Lord our God, the Almighty, has claimed his kingdom; 7 let us rejoice and triumph and give him the praise; the time has come for the wedding-feast of the Lamb. His bride has clothed herself in readiness for it; 8 hers it is to wear linen of shining white; the merits of the saints are her linen. 9 And now the angel said to me, Write thus: Blessed are those who are bidden to the Lamb’s wedding-feast. All this is true, he said; it is God’s own utterance. 10 Thereupon I fell at his feet, to worship him. But he said, Never that; keep thy worship for God; I am only thy fellow servant, one of those brethren of thine who hold fast the truth concerning Jesus. It is the truth concerning Jesus that inspires all prophecy.
11 Then, in my vision, heaven opened, and I saw a white horse appear. Its rider bore for his title, the Faithful, the True; he judges and goes to battle in the cause of right. 12 His eyes were like flaming fire, and on his brow were many royal diadems; the name written there is one that only he knows. 13 He went clad in a garment deep dyed with blood, and the name by which he is called is the Word of God; 14 the armies of heaven followed him, mounted on white horses, and clad in linen, white and clean. 15 From his mouth came a two-edged sword, ready to smite the nations; he will herd them like sheep with a crook of iron. He treads out for them the wine-press, whose wine is the avenging anger of almighty God. 16 And this title is written on his cloak, over his thigh, The King of kings, and the Lord of lords.
- Apocalypse (Revelation) 19.1-16, Knox
The Epistle
And I saw a second angel coming up from the east, with the seal of the living God. And he cried out with a loud voice to the four angels who were empowered to lay waste land and sea; 3 Do not lay waste land or sea or wood, until we have put a seal on the foreheads of those who serve our God. 4 Then I heard the count of those who were sealed, a hundred and forty-four thousand of them, taken from every tribe of the sons of Israel. 5 Twelve thousand were sealed from the tribe of Juda, twelve thousand from the tribe of Ruben, twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad; 6 twelve thousand from the tribe of Nephthali, twelve thousand from the tribe of Aser, twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasses; 7 twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi, twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar; 8 twelve thousand from the tribe of Zabulon, twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin. 9 And then I saw a great multitude, past all counting, taken from all nations and tribes and peoples and languages. These stood before the throne in the Lamb's presence, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their hands, 10 and cried with a loud voice, To our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, all saving power belongs. 11 And all the angels that were standing round the throne, round the elders and the living figures, fell prostrate before the throne and paid God worship; 12 Amen, they cried, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and strength belong to our God through endless ages, Amen. 13 And now one of the elders turned to me, and asked, Who are they, and whence do they come, these who are robed in white? 14 My Lord, said I, thou canst tell me. These, he said, have come here out of the great affliction; they have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 And now they stand before God's throne, serving him day and night in his temple; the presence of him who sits on the throne shall overshadow them. 16 They will not be hungry or thirsty any more; no sun, no noonday heat, shall fall across their path. 17 The Lamb, who dwells where the throne is, will be their shepherd, leading them out to the springs whose water is life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
- Apocalypse (Revelation) 7.2-17, Knox
The Gospel
Jesus, when he saw how great was their number, went up on to the mountain-side; there he sat down, and his disciples came about him. 2 And he began speaking to them; this was the teaching he gave. 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 4 Blessed are the patient; they shall inherit the land. 5 Blessed are those who mourn; they shall be comforted. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness; they shall have their fill. 7 Blessed are the merciful; they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the clean of heart; they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peace-makers; they shall be counted the children of God. 10 Blessed are those who suffer persecution in the cause of right; the kingdom of heaven is theirs. 11 Blessed are you, when men revile you, and persecute you, and speak all manner of evil against you falsely, because of me. 12 Be glad and light-hearted, for a rich reward awaits you in heaven; so it was they persecuted the prophets who went before you. 13 You are the salt of the earth; if salt loses its taste, what is there left to give taste to it? There is no more to be done with it, but throw it out of doors for men to tread it under foot. 14 You are the light of the world; a city cannot be hidden if it is built on a mountain-top. 15 A lamp is not lighted to be put away under a bushel measure; it is put on the lamp-stand, to give light to all the people of the house; 16 and your light must shine so brightly before men that they can see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
- Matthew 5.1-16, Knox
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