Thought for the Week

I wonder how many of you were out ‘guising’ last night?

Lots of children would be having great fun dressed as monsters, ghosts, zombies, Tyrannosaurus rex and various other characters set to scare the neighbours.

Dookin’ for apples and trying to bite from a dangling treacle scone may also present a challenge.

Jokes and songs may be exchanged for some sweeties, apples and peanuts amongst our young excited friends.

Guising, of course, comes from the word ‘disguise’ and the fun of guising is trying to find out who is underneath the costume.

Hallowe’en originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.

These customs remind us that it is the eve of all hallows, a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven.

Today, November 1, is All Saints Day and it is a special day for Christians to remember those they have loved and lost and who are now in God’s nearer presence.

There are many well known saints like Columba, Andrew, George, David, Brigid, Margaret, Catherine and Teresa to name but a few.

However, it is also a time to remember our own dear personal saints who have served God well in their earthly life and have left us an example to follow.

So today take time to thank God for those we hold dear in our own hearts – those who did not need a disguise because God loved them as they were and called them to follow him.

They may well have brought a little bit of Heaven to earth for us and an intimation that all will be well.