<\/p>\n
Hey Christians! It seems like we used to hear more from Christians who I say let kids have fun on Halloween. <\/span>I mean, how bad can God be offended Instead of worrying about Halloween, take advantage of it as For Latin cultures this generally means going to a cemetery All Saints Day, like Ash Wednesday, can be a time of All Saints Day is a celebration of those who cared for their <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hey Christians! Stop putting a camel hair rope around Halloween on October 31st, and instead take advantage of what happens on Nov. 1st – All Saints Day. It seems like we used to hear more from Christians who decried Halloween as a time to glamorize demons and the devil. If observed at all, some Christians…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,307],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christians","category-prayer-and-ritual"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n<\/span>Stop putting a camel hair rope around Halloween on October 31st<\/sup>,
\nand instead take advantage of what happens on Nov. 1st<\/sup> – All Saints
\nDay. <\/p>\n
\ndecried Halloween as a time to glamorize demons and the devil. <\/span>If observed at all, some
\nChristians decided to create their own versions of haunted houses called “Hell
\nHouses” <\/span>with the purpose of
\nscaring people into belief by showing regretted abortions, gay people with
\nAIDS, and addicted prostitutes.
\n<\/span>In 2009 a more accurate Hell House might be a family that has lost their
\nhome to foreclosure, a baby starving for lack of food, or a polluted water
\nsupply. <\/span>But maybe Hell Houses
\nshould just die its ghoulish death in 2009.<\/p>\n
\nwith kids dressing up as cowboys, princesses, matadors, hobos and even as
\nghosts (Charlie Brown anyone?).
\n<\/span>The only real sin here is gluttony as kids pack candy into their faces. <\/span>But that has its own immediate
\npunishment offered by nature – the stomachache. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nthe springboard for Nov. 1, which is known as All Saints Day and Dia de los
\nMuertos (Day of the Dead). <\/span> <\/span>All those faux scary spirit world
\nreminders of Halloween can be used as a springboard for a conversation about
\nthe real ‘life beyond life.’
\n<\/span>All Saints Day is a great time to talk about what happens when we die,
\nto commune with our loved ones who have died, and celebrate their life and
\ntheir presence with God in heaven. <\/span><\/p>\n
\nand having a party around the graves of family members. <\/span> <\/span>This might sound spooky for those who have not grown up
\nwith the practice, but it isn’t experienced that way. <\/span>It is a family celebration that
\nreinforces the ties of commitment and love that continue even after the death
\nof a loved one and an encouragement that there will be a similar party for us
\nonce we have died.<\/p>\n
\nreflection on our own mortality. <\/span>The
\nline between the living and the dead is very thin and we will all cross it some
\nday. On Ash Wednesday as I impose ashes I say to congregants the powerful words: <\/span>“Remember that you are made from dust
\nand to dust you shall return.” <\/span>But
\nthen I add in a whisper just for the individual: “So care for your soul, which
\nis eternal.” <\/span><\/p>\n
\nsoul by fulfilling Jesus’ commandments of Love of God and Love of Neighbor. <\/span>It is a reminder of that one true task
\nthat Jesus has set before us.
\n<\/span>Instead of cordoning yourself off this weekend, embrace this opportunity
\nto reflect on the reality of death and celebrate the Saints who now live in
\nGod’s eternal embrace. <\/p>\n