This Latin phrase is one of Martin Luther’s key bumper sticker slogans from the days of the Reformation. It says, “I am simultaneously a Saint and a sinner.” Isn’t that beautiful and honest. I’m always drawn to this phrase at the beginning of November. November 1st is All Saint’s Day—and it falls on a Sunday this year! It is the day the church remembers the faithful departed who rest in the arms of Jesus. All Saint’s Day is the reason we celebrate Halloween on October 31st.
Throughout this life there is plenty of evidence of our sainted-ness. And there is more evidence of our sinfulness than we would like as well. But, those holy moments are when we catch a glimpse of heaven on earth as people embody Kingdom living here and now. You have likely been the recipient of such blessed moments. And, hopefully, the purveyor of such faithful moments as well.
Saint is another word to describe the holiness of a person devoted to God. While most of us have an understanding of what “holy” means, it is helpful to get to the root definition as well. Holy means different. Something that is holy is set apart. The Holy Bible (Bible means book) is holy because it is a book that is different than every other book in existence. Holy Week—the week that leads up to Easter—is different than the other 51 weeks of the year. It stands out. And, one of the gifts that God bestows upon us followers of Christ is that we are holy. We are set apart as workers with Christ in and for His kingdom.
By the grace of God, the goodness of Jesus washes over us. Those washed in the storied waters of baptism are saints. You are holy. And it is nothing you’ve done yourself. It is all Him. Holiness is put on you like paint on a wall. You are painted in the Hue of Jesus.
Even still, the old ways of our brokenness cling to us. Our “peccator-hood” as my professor used to call it, is our sinfulness that we will never be free from completely. Sin is a disease that is woven into our fibers. We see and experience its cruel effects at every turn. Sin is our actions and inactions that lead away from God. It is the broken systems of this world and it is the internal voice of lies and half-truths that we listen to too often. And, sadly, sin isn’t going anywhere any time soon. It is here to stay. That is, until one of two things happens. Jesus returns or you are called home. The victory of Jesus at the cross is absolute and final. But the victory parade has not been scheduled yet. And so we wait. We wait for the time when sin is taken off of life support and it fades away into oblivion.
For all these reasons, and more, we are simultaneously saints and sinners. We have the capacity to do the very best in one moment and the very worst in the next. It is part of our story in these days. But the peccator-hood is only a temporary portion of our identity. And, it is this reason that I always come back to this phrase at All Saints Day. We remember all the saints who have gone before us. It is a day when we boldly, even through tear stained eyes, remember loved ones who are no longer here. Perhaps it hurts. But it is among the most important things we do as the body of believers. On this day, we are reminded that death has been defeated. Forever. And we celebrate that one thing that death defeats is our peccator-hood. It started on the cross. It reaches forward to our own death. For those who have died, All Saints Day reminds us that, for those who have died—they are ALL saints now. Totally and completely holy. Sin no longer has a claim on their lives. And, thanks be to God, there will be a day when sin will no longer have dominion on our lives either. Until we are enveloped to be ALL Saints, we celebrate All Saints Day.
