Excerpt from Acts 11:1-8

"Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 'I was in the city of Joppa praying and in a trance I saw a vision.'" 

Reflection by Quinn G. Caldwell

Here's what it means to be a saint: it means you have direct access to God.  It means that you can see the Heart the breaks for all that is broken.

Here's who is a saint: every member of the church, and that means you.

You know that through history, the church has recognized certain people for their closeness to God, people like Peter from today's story.  But in our tradition, everyone who is a member of the church is a saint, able to communicate directly with God, gifted, at least sometimes, with visions of God’s heart.  And when we’re really getting it right, we saints then find ways to pass what we know about God on to the people around us, spreading vision and grace freely, as Saint Peter did.

Today is All Saints' Day.  Today, pick at least one saint who has already gone home to God, and at least one that is still with you.  Say their names out loud and offer them up to God.  Remember at least one thing that each one taught you about God.  Say it out loud, and offer it up.  Then sing like you mean it:

Prayer

For all the saints who from their labors rest
Who through the years their steadfast faith confessed.
Your name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, alleluia!

Still may your people faithful, true, and bold
Live as the saints who nobly fought of old
And win with them a glorious crown of gold.
Alleluia, alleluia!

About the Author Quinn G. Caldwell is Associate Minister of Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts, and co-editor, with Curtis J. Preston, of the just-published Unofficial Handbook of the United Church of Christ.

The Daily Devotional is now on Facebook. Become a fan!

Sign up to receive Daily Devotionals

More items written by the Stillspeaking Writers' Group