Have fun, be safe, remember dead loved ones and Jesus Oct. 31-Nov. 2

Halloween is just around the corner. Did you know that more money is spent on Halloween than any other holiday, with the exception of Christmas? More than Thanksgiving, Valentines’ Day, Easter, Mothers’ Day or Fathers’ Day. We in this country love to decorate our homes with spooky items, and we love buying, giving away, receiving and eating all sorts of candy. We dress ourselves and our pets in costumes. In addition, more and more people are also celebrating Dia de Muertos – the Day of the Dead – which is Nov. 1 and 2.

Nov. 1 in the church is All Saints’ Day, a day to remember the saints and martyrs who lived their lives dedicated to Christ. Dia de Muertos is a time when families remember their dead loved ones and tell stories about their ancestors to their children and grandchildren. We, the living, have a fascination with ghosts and the dead, and when it comes to those who have died, I think it is appropriate to remember them. Through our remembrance, we keep alive the essence of our loved ones. We can learn important lessons from their lives, and perhaps be inspired by them.

Yet, when it comes to inspiration for our lives, there is no one who is a better role model than Jesus. His life teaches us the importance of dedicating our lives to the service of other people. Jesus showed us what it is to show others mercy. Jesus taught us what sacrificial love is all about – giving up your life in order to save your life and the lives of humankind. This Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, have fun. Be safe. Bask in the stories of your ancestors. And give thanks to God for the gift of Jesus, the model and perfecter of our Christian faith – Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

“This is why Christ died and lived: so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.”

Romans 14:9