Reflection and Prayer at Hallowe’en
For the child, and a good number of adults, Hallowe’en is a time of imaginative play; of costumes and treats, and bangers and pretend. For children, and indeed many grown-ups, Hallowe’en can be innocent enough, though some might dare to play with terror itself and trigger the fright muscles.
For the ancient Celts, Hallowe’en or Samhain, marked sunlight’s end and the beginning of dark winter. An earthy change believed to be accompanied by the stirring of spirits—both good and bad and departed. Such spirits made themselves known between the half light and the shadows, yet were warded off by the rituals of the living.
But, for the Christian of every stripe, in every time and place, Hallowe’en, or All Hallows Eve, can be a time of reorientation to the accomplished work of Christ. We need not fear death for Christ has overcome it. We need not fear any darkness that haunts our world for Christ has disarmed the powers of darkness and will crush him forever. We need not fear days of trouble for Christ himself declares, “Be not afraid. I am with you always.” There is the Spirit, holy and strong, that dwells within the hearts of God’s people. A people made up of the living on earth and the living-dead in heaven. A people made up of important saints and everyday saints who have walked behind us in the Church of the past, who walk among us in the Church of the present and who have gone ahead of us to the Church eternal.
Yes, Hallowe’en for the Christian is a reorientation of our hearts and minds to the reality that God’s love has the power to sustain the living, raise the dead and liberate us from our greatest fears, through Christ Jesus our Lord.
A Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name
And hallowed be Your people.
Clothe us with Christ,
That we might be Your children
Who imitate Your Son in all we say and do,
In a world so often plagued by hate and greed,
And violence and vengeance.
May we reflect the forgiveness and love of Christ.
Fill us with the Holy Spirit,
That we might be empowered
To contend with the darkness
By Your Light of Life within us.
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
Cast out our fears
And banish the dark,
By your glorious love.
We join with all the saints,
In heaven and on earth,
In all times and all places,
To declare:
Holy Holy Holy is the Lord God, Almighty,
The whole earth is full of his glory. Amen.
