Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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 ALL SAINTS DAY

EPHE 1:15-23

This is a day that is celebrated to venerate all the holy men and women who have been canonized by the church. November first is celebrated as all saint’s day by the catholic church. Other than the catholic church many protestants, Lutheran, Anglican and Methodist churches also observe this special day. Though in Mar Thoma Church we remember all the saints in our prayers we do not dedicate a day as all saint’s day. All the saints and martyrs for Christ are remembered on this special day by the churches. Their faith, dedication, worship, love and sincere prayers for the suffering world is well remembering. Pope Gregory III in 731 AD dedicated a chapel in Rome for the saints Though this is not a pagan holiday many pagan practices have crept in the worship order of many churches. In the 1900 ‘s people used to decorate the graves of the departed with lights and candles which later on lead to the practice of holding lights in worship services.

Today’s passage for meditation focuses on the prayer that Paul made in Ephesus. It is different in its content from the usual prayers we make. Paul is seen praying for the church and its ungodly practices. Paul emphasizes their love for Christ and their mutual love and concerns. In usual prayers we usually pour our hearts to God, and it is a two-way communication. The people in Ephesus were in a dilemma and caught in the midst of a majority that worship the Goddess Diana in the temple of Artemis. We also live in a culture where many ungodly worship practices exist with many followers. We are created with a purpose to praise God, praise and exalt the name and glory of our savior We also do have the responsibility to pray and care other believers that constitutes the body of the church, all undergoing persecutions all over the world and for those martyrs who put their life on line for the cause of Christ. Paul praises God in the beginning of the chapter for all His blessings. In verses 15 through 23 Paul says we are complete if we have Jesus in our lives and shall be aware of the innumerable blessings that He showers on us every day. The purpose of Paul’s prayer is seen in verses 15 ,where he applauses the Ephesians in trusting in their savior and treating the saints faithfully. The core of Christian life is faith in Christ, continue in Christ and come to conclusion in faith. The faith in Christ one develops radiates love to all believers and saints both living and dead. The mark of a believer in Christ is love and that love is extended to others. The Ephesians were successful to show their vertical love towards Christ and at the same time horizontal love to other believers in Christ.

As we sojourn our journey in this temporary world stay let us foster the love the Ephesians had towards Christ, their faithfulness and sincerity in treating other believers and saints. Amen.

Prayer
Lord teaches us to love others as we love you. Help us to respect our saints who have tortured themselves their lives for your cause.

Thought of the Day
And now these three remain. Faith Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love

Dr Thomas K. Jose
The Mar Thoma Church Staten Island.

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