Homily, The All Saints Parade
The Feast of All Saints, Year A (2026)
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Plant City, FL
The Rev. Derek M Larson, TSSF
Today’s Lectionary Readings:
Revelation 7:9-17
Psalm 34:1-10, 22
1 John 3:1-3
Matthew 5:1-12
In the name of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
How many of you like a good parade?
I’m not talking about a mediocre parade. A parade where its too hot or too rainy or floats are too spread apart, and the band never plays when they walk by you. I’m talking about a good parade.
A parade where the floats are beautifully decorated and filled with joyful people. Where the marching bands always play when they get to you and it’s always amazing. Where there are giant helium balloon animals that need 50 people with ropes just to hold it to the earth. And dancers. Doing backflips and throwing batons all in sync with one another.
At a good parade there is always something to see as you point this way and that, “Look over there! Wow, look at that! That’s amazing.”
There’s nothing like a good parade.
You know, the Book of Revelation is a lot like that. In it Saint John gets a glimpse of heaven. He has a vision in which he can see into heaven. And there in heaven what he sees is like grand parade.
First come those bearing seven golden lamp stands and the sound of a trumpet in chapter 1. They are followed by twenty four kings surrounding a throne made of lightning and rainbows in chapter 4. Next are the four living creatures each with six wings: a lion, an ox, a human, and an eagle, and in chapter 5 they lead the way for a beautiful but wounded little lamb.
Before and after them are, of course, the thurifers, spreading the aroma of incense. Next come four horseman who each put on a wild and dangerous show, followed by four angels who hold the wind. One-hundred, forty-four thousand people from the nation of Israel join the procession, singing loud songs, and with them come saints from every nation, every people, every language, dressed in white with palm branches in their hands singing at the top of their lungs in praise of the little lamb.
That is where our reading from Revelation comes in today—chapter 7—, but the parade goes on, and oh what a procession: wind-keepers and palm-wavers, elders and eagles, incense and trumpets, witnesses who come back to life, a pregnant woman wearing sunlight, St. Michael and a dragon, and an entire city coming down from out of the sky. It is a great and wonderful parade.
And it all leads to the throne room of God, where every knee bows down to the one who loves us all. This is the vision of St. John: a great parade of saints and holy ones marching through many dangers, toils, and snares until they come home to the peace of God.
Have you ever noticed that sitting in this church each week feels a little bit like we’re sitting in John’s vision?
Look around. There are saints in the windows. Angels watching over us. There are candles burning and white-robed torchbearers. There are images of animals and creatures. And the lamb. There is incense rising with our prayers. There is singing. There is a procession.
Does that sound familiar?
It’s no accident. This place and this liturgy is an embodiment and participation in John’s vision, where we gather around the altar and the throne to worship.
We sometimes think all these things are simply decorations. Something to make church beautiful. But they are also here to help us make a journey. To carry our feet, our eyes, our ears, our whole selves into the worship of heaven.
When we cross the threshold of this place, we step into another reality. The clock keeps ticking, yes, but we enter into eternity. When you are here at St. Peter’s and look around at the architecture, the vestments, the iconography, when you hear the hymns, the prayers, and the bells, you are not meant to know what decade or century you are in, because you are in eternity. Heaven’s doors have opened wide, and we have joined the All Saints Parade, with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven.
We sit here today, not as spectators of heavenly worship, but as participants. We belong to the Parade of All the Saints. And we gather here where heaven and earth meet to take our place in the grand procession to the throne of God. You belong to the All Saints parade.
A parade that transcends time and space. A parade that extends across the world from nation to nation. A parade that passes through years, decades, and centuries so that our worship is joined with the worship of those who have gone on before us, even our own loved ones. A parade that ushers us from earth into heaven. Heaven is not only a place you go to when you die; heaven is the prayer and worship you offer God day by day with the whole communion of saints. You belong to that parade.
And today, we welcome 6 others into the All Saints parade. Through baptism Grace, Jaxson, Josie, Janie, June, and Autumn take their place in the procession alongside of each one of us so that we all walk together, supporting one another in our common life of faith.
That is what belonging to the communion of saints looks like. We receive one another as people God has called into the same company. Some of us are just beginning. Some have been walking for many years. Some are full of faith this morning, and some are barely finding the strength to take another step. But there is a place for each of us in this grand parade. And if you’ve never joined—if you’ve never been baptized—there is a place for you too. Even today, if you would like to join this grand parade, then come forward with the other candidates for baptism, and take your place in the procession.
Today is the Feast of All Saints. Look around again.
Look at the saints in the windows. Look at the people sitting beside you. Look at those coming to the font.
This is your company. These are your people. And Christ the Lamb who sits on the throne at the head of the procession is calling you, too.
Whatever this week brings, you do not walk into it alone. You belong to this great company, stretching across nations and generations, across heaven and earth.
There is nothing like good parade.
And by the grace of God, we belong to the best one of all: the heavenly parade of all the saints.
Amen.
Questions for Reflection
- In what ways can I actively participate in the “All Saints Parade” of believers, both in worship and in my daily life?
- How can I extend the joy and support I find in my spiritual community to others who are seeking a place in this “grand parade”?
