Holy Cross and All Saints' Days. Fear or Love?
by the Rev. Walter Snyder
Religion Columnist

Q: What is the story behind Holy Cross Day? Was there a particular saint which began the
celebrating of All Saints Day? What is the history of All Saints' Day and the connection to
Halloween?

A: Holy Cross Day is a commemoration of the alleged discovery by Helena, mother of Emperor
Constantine, of what were said to be fragments of the true cross upon which Christ was crucified.
It became a major celebration in the western Church, involving processions and celebrations. Its
appeal may have been due in large part to the time of year (September 14) when it was observed.
Good Friday, the day remembering Christ's death on the cross, was judged to be too solemn and
somber for such a joyful celebration.

All Saints' Day, which remembers the "giants" of the Faith, especially those officially canonized
by either the Eastern Church or Roman Catholicism, may have been given its November 1 spot on
the Christian calendar in part to combat pagan celebrations such as Samhain among the Celtic
peoples. Even after conversion, many of the old ways remained among some converts, and so the
Eve of All Hallows (Hallowed, Holy, and Saint all being related words) became a time when some
believed that unholy creatures (ghosts, demons, and the like) were loosed upon the land.

Q: The Bible tells us at one point to "Love God and carry his Commandments," then it
goes on to tell us to "Fear God, and carry His Commandments." The Bible also says "There
is no fear in love." Should we fear or love?

A: Both fear and love are part of our relationship with God. Fear, in a religious context, means
more than emotional terror or dread. It also means great respect and awe. As I child, I "feared"
my father, but not only because he could punish me. He was bigger, older, wiser, faster, and so
many other things than I was. Yet this fear did not exclude love, rather they went hand-in-hand
with each other. When I did wrong, the terror of punishment was foremost. However, I also knew
that Dad would use his strength, wisdom, and other abilities to protect and defend me, to put food
on our table, and to keep scary things away.

How much more can such things be said and thought about our Father in heaven! Surely, as sinful
creatures, we should dread God's presence. No person who has lived, save Adam and Eve before
the Fall and Jesus Christ throughout His never-ending life, can look upon God and live because of
the impurity of our sin. He is the God who judges and pours out His wrath. Yet He is also the
God who is strong to save, who commits Himself to people, and who will never leave nor forsake
His children.

Martin Luther paired "fear" with "love" in each explanation of the Ten Commandments. With the
First, "You shall have no other gods," he said, "We should fear, love, and trust in God above all
things." The beginning of each of the next nine's explanation is, "We should fear and love God so
that . . ." and then explains the keeping of that commandment, both in not doing bad and in
seeking, out of loving response to God's love, to find a positive way of acting. For example,
under "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor," we read, "We should fear and
love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his
reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way."

In other words, the sinner fears the wrath of God while the saint loves His presence and wants to
be close by Him all the time. Since each Christian is both sinner and saint, both fear and love are
part of our relationship with God. Remember that the Bible also says, "Perfect love casts out
fear," so as we grow closer to God, we pray that our terror of His wrath would be taken away.
Yet even in the perfection of heaven, there may be a certain degree of "fear." However, it will not
be because of terror over sin, but only an absolute and righteous awe because of God's holiness,
His power, and His abiding love.

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Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of
the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."

Ask the Pastor is copyright (c) 2001 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality,
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