Reflecting on the Word

By Dr. Karla J. Bellinger

The last time I made popcorn the smell reminded me of my  mom. The kernels exploded out of the hot-air popper into her green  and white mixing bowl. I melted butter as she had. I sprinkled the  buttered kernels with salt and stirred it all up. I popped three kernels  into my mouth. Delicious! (She ate her popcorn one kernel at a time,  so she was a bit more proper than I was.) It may make me old fashioned, but I don’t microwave popcorn in a bag. Why? It does not  evoke memories. It does not smell right. It does not bring my mom  back to life. 

On this feast of All Saints, we celebrate the dead and bring their  memory back to life. Yet, when we think about those who have  departed, those who have gone to heaven before us . . . well, I think  that we have it backwards. But, really, truly, they are the living. We  are the dying. From the flash when we were conceived, through our  first whiff of lilacs, until that moment when our breathing stops, we  are dying for the aroma of eternity. Something heavenly awaits us.

Can you sense that? My mom is alive! My grandma is alive! Your  mom or brother or child or sister or aunt or dad is alive! Within  the limits of our earthly snuffling, we only sense barrenness where we used to inhale their fragrance. We cannot perceive them. That hollowness can hurt. But they are partaking of the feast of heaven—the most sweet-smelling chocolate cake on earth cannot compare.  They have gone before us into the banquet of life. The God of glory  is the Fragrance of fragrances, the Delight of delights. Today, with all  the church, militant and glorified, may we get a whiff of that glory! 

Consider/Discuss 

  • What is your initial reaction when you read that we are the dying and those  who have gone before us are the living? Does that feel morbid or glorious?  How does it change your worldview when you shift that perspective? 
  • Who do you most want to celebrate today on All Saints Day? Which of the Beatitudes does he or she best exemplify? 

Living and Praying with the Word 

God of glory, you give us so many heroes and heroines of the  faith! They toiled for what was right. They fought for justice. Thank  you for giving us so many examples of people of holy virtue. They  lived and died for you. They knew you and loved you. We want to  be saints, too. Lift us higher! Empower our faith! Take us with you  to the banquet! Ah, the joy of All Saints!

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