When the Saints Go Marching In

How We Became Saints, Part I

When I was a freshman at St. Paul's College High in Concordia, MO--circa 1967-68--there was a move to change our name from the SPCH Bluejays, as we sought to establish an identity separate from St. Paul's College. *

As I remember it, out of many suggestions that were made, 6 names showed up on the ballot. Everyone was allowed to vote, including us lowly freshmen. On the day before or day of the final vote, I was in the high school library with a few other freshmen. [Was it a study hall? Was it over the lunch period?] A group of seniors dropped in to explain to us that we were going to vote for "Saints." [Where was the librarian?] Their "logical" persuasion convinced us to follow their lead, & the vote to change our name to the St. Paul Saints was a landslide.
* Back in the day, we were a 6-yr "campus," a 4-yr high school & a 2-yr junior college.

How We Became Saints, Part II

Many Lutheran churches, including our own, observed All Saints Day last SUN 11/5. Lutherans appreciate saints. We do not worship them, nor do we pray to them. We celebrate the lives of brothers & sisters in Christ who have passed before. One of our texts last SUN was from Rev. 7:9-17. As St. John was observing the glory & majesty of heaven around 90 A.D., a special privilege before he died, he wrote, "After this I looked and behold, a great multitude that no one could number from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb!'" . . . Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, 'Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?' I said to him, 'Sir, you know.' And he said to me, 'These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made white in the blood of the Lamb.'" (Rev. 7:9-10, 13-16)

My sainted father was taken to heaven 10 years ago in early November, 2007. In early February it will be 10 years ago since my sainted father-in-law was taken to heaven. And in early March it will be 10 years since my sainted mother was taken to heaven. How do I know that they are saints? How do I know that they were already saints at the time of their death? I know this because they were blessed with faith to believe in Jesus as their Lord & Savior. This was accomplished through the grace--the undeserved love--manifested in the life & death & resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

It is an awesome comfort to know this. St. John continues, "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will shelter them with His presence. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." (7:15-17)

A common practice in our churches is to read the names of our brothers & sisters who died in the faith during the past year. These are the brothers & sisters who were part of our earthly community at Grace Lutheran Church. As those names were read, I was moved to silently "celebrate" members of our own personal family who passed before us--some many years ago.

These included a niece who died from complications following major heart surgery when she was just a toddler . . . Lois' mother & father . . . my mother & father . . . some dear aunts & uncles, several of whom died just within this last year.

They are in heaven! They are "before the throne of God." They are past the suffering they endured during their lives on earth, sufferings that included cancer, dementia, heart problems, strokes & more. They are no longer suffering from hunger, no longer suffering from thirst. We have God's promise of this.

And we who are believers by God's grace will join with this "great multitude that no one could number." How do I know this? Because Jesus the Lamb of God will be our Shepherd. Who IS our shepherd, & whose promises are always true. 

Yes, I choked up more than once during last Sunday's worship service. There were tears in my eyes, but the time will come when we join our loved ones in a place where God will wipe away every tear.

Our name change at St. Paul's College High lent itself to a great school anthem, "When the Saints Go Marching In." [Fellow St. Paul Saints may have expected me to choose "Good Old Martin Luther."] When our loved ones die, they are marched into heaven. As far as I know, the great multitude of saints is doing some marching now & for eternity. TIMCT! *
* "This Is Most Certainly True." **
** That's a "Lutheranism," thanks to "good old Martin Luther."

For All the Saints *

(St. 1) "For all the saints who from their labors rest, 
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blessed. Alleluia! Alleluia!

(St. 2) "Thou wast their rock, their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight; 
Thou, in the darkness drear their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia!

(St. 7) "But lo, there breaks a yet more glorious day; 
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of Glory passes on His way. Alleluia! Alleluia!

(St. 8) "From earth's wide bounds from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host, 
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: Alleluia! Alleluia!

* LSB, #677