The festivals of All Souls and All Saints which the church celebrates this week, are festival of light and hope, which stand out in stark contrast to the dark festival of Hallowe’en, which also occurs at this time, with all the trimmings and trappings that surround it.

I’m sure many children will be knocking on doors this evening, in the hope of a reward, as part of what has become known as the annual ‘Trick or Treat’ event, connected with Hallowe’en.

It could be quite a dangerous exercise, for some children go and knock at the doors of complete strangers.Vandalism has also been associated with this custom, which is another real cause for concern, in this “Pay up or pay the consequence “mentality.

Then there is also the worrying aspect that the elderly, the housebound and those who live alone, will have a genuine fear of groups of strange children, wearing masks, coming to their doors.

Who knows what their intentions are, and who knows whether the children are little saints or not, in their dark clothing and behind masks, when they come knocking.

We could even ask ourselves, How much like saints are we, and how do we measure up as God’s children. Can people tell the difference?

First of all, in order for anyone to become a saint, we must realise that it is Christ who does the knocking at the door; it’s not up to us.

 He is the one who seeks us out, and what is needed is a response from us. We must be willing to become children.

And scripture makes it clear that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we do, whether we happen to be 9 or 99.

We must be childlike in our attitudes of love and trust and hope, abandoning the masks we’ve worn throughout our lives, which hide who we really are.  Then we’re able to be the people we were intended to be.

In order to become saints we do not keep Jesus waiting outside. We invite him in to be the new master of our lives. We become like him, as it says in our NT reading from 1 John. We don’t need to be filled with fear and dread when He comes knocking, because love is the consequence of his indwelling.

And his perfect love casts out fear.

Secondly we must take off the dark clothing of our sins, in order to be able to put on white robes washed clean by the forgiveness of God.

 We are no longer a people lost in the shadows, but we become children of the Light, walking in the light of God.

Over the centuries we have been inclined to think of ‘saints’ as those who have been martyred for their faith, whose blood has been shed in a stand for belief, or we have thought of ‘saints’ as being the name for the early Church fathers who kept the faith alive.

 But St Paul, in addressing the Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians, actually used the term  ‘saints’ to refer to ordinary Christians like you and me:- a people set apart to do the will of God.; sacred vessels to be used for a holy purpose.

We have been assured a reward; that the best is yet to come for God’s saints, that there is a heavenly kingdom still to come.

When Christ comes knocking, he himself brings a gift, and this is a  free offer.

 A real treat! no trick involved; that one day we will worship God, in eternity, and his protection will be over us. There will be no hunger or thirst, no sun to scorch us, no tears no more mourning.  We will also see the Lamb upon his throne, who will shepherd us and lead us to springs of living water.

Thirdly, just as tonight we’ll be able to recognise the ‘Trick or Treaters’ by the costume they wear, along with their lanterns and carrier bags full of sweets. So too God will be able to recognise his saints, by the love they bear to Him, and by their loving attitudes to others, as set out in the gospel of Matthew today.

The world has far different measures for what is great, such as power, ruthlessness, wealth, strength and might…..

but what is truly great in God’s eyes, is if we know our need of Him, if we seek Him wholeheartedly.

We are blessed when we find our strength in God, in the face of suffering and persecution, or loss.

He blesses us, when we submit to His will, instead of demanding our own way, and throwing our weight about.

We please God when we hunger and thirst for a right relationship with Him, and long for right to be done in His world.

He delights in those who do as he bids, and go where he leads, regardless of personal preferences.

He longs for us to have no selfish ambition, no ulterior motives in what we do for him.

He expects us to show mercy to others, and to be willing to forgive as He has forgiven us, and not to hold any grudges whatsoever.

God longs for us to be pure in heart; he wants our love to be genuine. And he also longs for us to be His peacemakers in this world.

Last of all there is mention that some will be so devoted to God, that they invite the jealousy of others, and opposition and persecution from all angles and sides will hit them; even from within their own families.

The process of Christ knocking at the doors of our lives, and turning us from sinners into saints, may well be a lengthy one for some of us, for some it may be more instant.

But we have been promised that what has been started will be brought to completion in us by God.

It is a process which will make us vulnerable, just like those children who go Trick or Treating; it may even make others fear us, and even hate us. It may bring down the animosity of others…….

But it is a process which will liberate us, and free us.

 We will experience being rebuilt and reshaped, and hopefully we will through being saints of God, change the world around us , for the better.