John Wesley and All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day was arguably John Wesley’s favorite festival of the Christian year. That may sound odd as one would think that Christmas or Easter might take pride of place. But in the eighteenth-century in England those holidays didn’t have the same punch that do in our churches today. Christmas was a time of revelry, but nothing like it is today. And the services of Holy Week that lead us to Easter were not as central to church practice (even if they actually predate the period).

But before I launch us all into a liturgical history tour, let’s focus on All Saints’. Wesley was an admirer of the holiday because it’s focus is holiness.

A saint is someone who in their life and their actions reflects Christ.

The feast day is focused on the notable saints of the church’s life. That’s why traditionally, we have both All Saints’ for the truly outstanding faithful and All Souls for the rest of us the following day. Most Wesleyans, however, are likely to combine the two.

At times, we use All Saints’ Day to remember those who have gone before, those precious to us who have died. And we rightly remember them.

But the point of the feast is to remember their example. By the way that they lived, they pointed to Christ. They very likely pointed us to Christ.

I’m reminded of my grandmothers around this time of the year. They were both faithful Christians. One had a deep and abiding love for Scripture. She quoted it off the top of her head because she knew it. It was simply a part of her language. She showed me what it meant to love Scripture. The other loved people. Her friends and family were so very dear to her. The church was dear to her. Whenever she gave you a hug, she would add a final squeeze at the end just to emphasis the point.

Both of these women loved Christ. Both loved others. Both loved Scripture. And both passed on to me the love that they had as faithful followers of Jesus. But they also highlighted different aspects of the Christian faith. And I’m thankful for it.

This is what the saints do; they pass on the faith. They pass on the love that they’ve experienced in their own lives.

As we walk with Christ, we begin to become more and more like him. We usually call this holiness. But as we become like him, we begin to reflect him to others. And that is the work of a saint.

Let’s celebrate All Saints’ Day this year by looking to those who reflect Christ, who point to Christ, and follow their example.

Ryan N. Danker is director of the John Wesley Institute, Washington, DC. This is reposted from a weekly JWI newsletter that you can subscribe to here.