This is a copy of my talk given in the Anglican Church of Paphos on Sunday 1 November 2026. The Bible Readings were Lamentations 3:17-26, Psalm 23:1-6,1 Peter 1:3-9 and John 6:37-40.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
I thank You for Your word.
By the power of Your Holy Spirit,
May You speak to my heart,
And change my life.
In the precious name of Jesus I pray.
Amen.
Introduction
Today is All Saints’ Day but we are also celebrating All Souls’ Day. One is a day to remember thesaints of the church and the other when we commemorate the dearly departed. These are two of the most significant festivals of the church calendar.
But the observance of All Saints and All Souls stands in stark contrast to how we usually deal with death and dying. These days ask us to stop and to remember – just as we will on Remembrance Sunday next week. Today asks us to call to mind those who have died; saints and sinners alike, to remember them and to honour them.
Facing Death
It asks us to look death in the face. That can be scary and overwhelming. It causes all sorts of emotions to well up within us: disbelief; bewilderment; frustration, anger; guilt for things not said or done or for opportunities missed.
When we face death, we also become so much more aware of our own mortality and begin to ask ourselves so many searching questions that perhaps, under normal circumstances, we wouldn’t. What happens when I die? Is there a God? Is there a heaven?
And even though death is something each one of us will face at some point in our lives, it’s a topic we don’t often find easy to talk about. It’s the British ‘stiff-upper lip’ way. We don’t deal very well with dying and death. We lack rituals and traditions that would aid us in our mourning – the way people in places like Africa, Asia, South America and the Middle East do. We hide death away and pretend it doesn’t exist and we expect people to grieve quickly and quietly and move on.
And we often express this refusal to deal with death in spiritual terms: “Oh, she’s in a better place now! or “Oh, he’s with God now!” Or we dismiss terrible tragedies by saying they are God’s will or that “Heaven must have needed another angel.” All because we are unwilling, or unable, to face the harshness of death and how unfair and cruel and indiscriminate it can be at times. Sometimes we begin to lose whatever faith we may have.
We live in a world where death will catch up with each of us one day and it is something we have to face. Like you, I’ve lost friends and family over the years – some in tragic circumstances – such as suicide at 23 yrs, a motorcycle accident at 33 yrs, a brain tumour at 45 yrs, an untimely death at 10 yrs. I still wonder why things happened the way they did. I don’t think I’ll get a satisfactory answer this side of heaven.
But despite that, I’ve experienced the promise of Psalm 23 when the Lord Our Shepherd promises to be with us on some of the darkest days in our lives: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Day Of The Dead
In Mexico there is a tradition called Dia de los Muertos or Day of the Dead. It’s celebrated at this same time of the year, but the festival takes on a different tone. The celebration is about more than just remembering the dead, it’s also about being connected to them. People build altars with photos (it’s interesting how many gravestones here in Cyprus have a photo of the person who is buried there – quite an interesting tradition). They also add mementos of the people they love, they share their favourite foods and drinks. They visit their graves together and tell stories about the ones who have died.
There is something quite beautiful in this act of remembrance as they set aside time to remember and honour those who have died. Not only that, but to believe they are still connected to one another. Hebrews 12:1 comes to mind which reminds us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. That we are still connected and belong to one another.
We Believe In The Resurrection Of The Body
As Christians, we are people who believe (or, on bad days, try to believe) in the resurrection. We believe that when Jesus rose from the dead on that first Easter Sunday, He abolished the power of death once and for all and gives all of us a certain and sure hope that death is not the end but only the beginning. It’s why we say in the words of the creed:
We believe in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting!
We believe that life continues after death. We’re often not really sure what that looks like, but we believe it. We put our hope in it. And because of that belief and that hope we also believe that we are still connected to the faithful departed.
All Saints and All Souls Day call to us to remember our identities as people of the resurrection. We remember that death does not have the final word and because of death not having the final word we are able to face death and dying with honesty. We are able to admit that we fear dying even though we know death isn’t the end. John 6:40: For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.
Joy And Celebration
It seems to me that, in the midst of grief and sorrow, it is okay to bring joy and celebration into our mourning and remembrance. We grieve the loss of our loved ones, but we also tell the stories of what we have learned from them or the times when we laughed together. By bringing them into the forefront of our minds we bring their presence closer to us. We do so believing that death is not the end; that when we die, we enter into the arms of God who loves us. As Psalm 23 reminded us: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
And by admitting and facing all of these things we are able to take away some of the sting of death. We are able to remove some of the power that death holds over us. And when that power is removed, we see death in a different way, as Lamentations 3:22-23: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, is mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
1 Peter 1:3: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
Conclusion
As we remember All Saints’ Day, let us learn from the examples of the saints/ Let us spend a few moments thinking about Christians no longer with us, whose lives were an example to us, and pray in thanksgiving for the ways they inspired us.
And as we commemorate All Souls’ Day. Let us not be afraid to mourn and celebrate, with tears and laughter. Let us not be afraid to share stories of the times we shared together. And as we do so:
May they rest in peace: and rise in glory.
COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER The text contained in this sermon (except where stated) is solely owned by its author, Revd Paul A. Carr. The reproduction, or distribution of this message, or any portion of it, should include the author’s name. The author provides free sermon resources in order to inspire believers and to assist preachers and teachers in building God’s Kingdom and making disciples.
