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I don't know about you but I have found myself
appalled again this year by the exploitation of children and parents
by retailers as they press on us cheap, tatty and, ultimately worthless
products designed to somehow make Halloween 'fun', the elderly and infirm
nervous, and retailers and manufacturers rich. It gets worse every year
and the rush to join in this mad frenzy shows how we can be mindlessly
led by the wallet into not being left out of something we don't understand,
can't explain, but somehow simply must be a part of. As Radio 2 DJ Terry
Wogan is often wont to say, "Is it me?"
The problem is that so many truly don't understand and can't
explain what is so special about this time of year. Which is a shame
because it is significant both in the life of the Christian Church and
in the life of the country. Halloween, marked on 31 October, is the
old Celtic festival of Samhain, a pagan festival marking the turning
of the year. Many felt that this was also a time when the souls of the
dead revisited their homes, therefore the preoccupation with ghosts,
demons and the like.
The church wanted to divert the thinking and preoccupation away from
these pagan ceremonies and so, following a long and honoured tradition,
introduced special services for All Hallows Eve and 1 November, All
Saints Day. Many feel this effort has failed, and they might be forgiven
for thinking this given the witches and ghouls we see on the night of
Halloween. However, Halloween and profit motive aside, it is a season
of remembrance. A time when, having given thanks at harvest time for
God's bounty, we remember how we got to this point and what sacrifices
have been made by people we don't know in circumstances we can't imagine
to give us rewards we haven't earned and don't deserve. And I think
we should resolve to reflect on these things and give thanks to God
for all he has done.
Remembering is a biblical injunction, from the command to remember the
Sabbath (Ex.20:8), through the command to "Remember your Creator" (Ecc.12:1)
and "the wonders he has done" (1 Chr.16:12). Israel was commanded to
remember what God had done to deliver them from Egypt:
Obey these instructions (Passover) as a lasting ordinance for you and
your descendants. When you enter the land that the LORD will give you
as he promised, observe this ceremony. And when your children ask
you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then tell them, 'It
is the Passover sacrifice to the LORD, who passed over the houses of
the Israelites in Egypt and spared our homes when he struck down the
Egyptians.' (Ex.12:24-27)
Christians are, likewise, instructed to "do
this (eat the bread and drink the cup of communion) in remembrance of
me" (Lk.22:19).
Hebrews 11 helps us remember that "great cloud of witnesses", from Abel
through Abraham, Jacob and Joseph, Moses and onwards to the martyrs
of the faith who,
Were tortured and refused to be released,
so that they might gain a better resurrection. Faced jeers and flogging,
while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned;
they were sawn in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went
about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and ill-treated
- the world was not worthy of them (Heb.11:36-38)
It is these last 'heroes of the faith' who were first commemorated by
local churches, and sometimes the wider church, on 'feast days', days
set apart for giving special honour to those martyrs held in highest
esteem for their sacrifices. After the fourth century, when persecution
and martyrdom became almost unknown in the Christian world, such days
were set aside for notable Christians such as missionaries, hermits,
ascetics etc. Christians are persecuted today in larger numbers than
ever, many are martyred, and the example of the early church in remembering
those of whom it can be said, "The world was not worthy of them" is
a good example for us today.
This time of year is especially important in remembrance because November
1 is the feast of All Saints and November 2 the feast of All Souls.
This is when we remember the faithful departed, notable and otherwise,
great and small, and remind ourselves that the communion of the saints
has no bounds and the work of God in salvation is vast beyond our understanding.
And we remember and give thanks. Christians are a thankful people.
It is also an important time because November 11 marks the Festival
of Remembrance when in the UK a special Festival is held in the Albert
Hall. November 12 this year of 2006 is Remembrance Sunday when services
of remembrance are held in churches up and down the country and wreaths
are laid at the Cenotaph. We remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice
in two world wars and in other conflicts around the globe. And we remember
and give thanks. We should all be more thankful than we are.
The Israelites were instructed, "And
when your children ask you, 'What does this ceremony mean to you?' then
tell them…" What do we tell our children?
Do we celebrate the heroes of our faith? Do we remember what previous
generations have sacrificed for us? Lets spend time in the coming weeks
to remember and give thanks. Let us remind our children and our children's
children that such things are more important than they might led to
believe in this unthankful age and should be treated with respect, even
awe - and thankfulness.
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