Feast of All Saints and All Souls

The Rev. Canon Sierra Reyes

On All Saints’ Sunday, the preacher reflects on the hymn “When the Saints Go Marching In” and its line, “Lord, I want to be in that number.” The sermon explores the human longing to belong among the saints and reassures the congregation that sainthood is not earned but given — an identity rooted in God’s grace and baptismal love. The preacher honors both the famous “capital-S Saints” and the everyday “lowercase-s saints” who shaped our lives.

As the church baptizes new members, the community joins an unbroken line of faith. The life of discipleship, the preacher reminds us, is not easy — it is a journey through hardship, calling for courage and “holy trouble” in pursuit of justice and truth. The hymn, reimagined as a defiant protest song, proclaims that God’s love conquers death and despair. To be in that number means to live as one already beloved, bearing witness to God’s enduring grace and hope.