1 Samuel 28: Double, double, toil and trouble
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Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I may go and inquire of her.” “There is one in Endor,” they said.
So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothes, and at night he and two men went to the woman. “Consult a spirit for me,” he said, “and bring up for me the one I name.”
Then the woman asked, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” “Bring up Samuel,” he said.
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The Bible has lots of spooky stories. This one has a witch conjuring up a ghost. King Saul even put on a Halloween costume before he went to see her.
When times are bad, people look for a sign. Sometimes they turn to mediums and spiritualists. Sometimes they turn to our modern soothsayers: the news outlets and talk show hosts.
The black arts always flourish when people have lost hope. And we all enjoy some spooky stuff now and then.
When Christians came to Europe they didn't try to to outlaw the spooky stuff. They realized the world was a scary place. They just declared the next day after the spook festival to be All Hallows Day--All Saints Day--to mark the victory of the children of Light over the forces of Darkness. So the spook festival became All Hallows Evening--Halloween.
And the Apostles' Creed confesses that we believe in the Communion of the Saints. The same God who holds us in his hands now holds our departed loved ones in his arms. We don't have to go to a witch to conjure up ghosts of the past.
We can feel their--hear them--almost touch them--every time we pray. Have a happy Halloween, and remember victory is coming in the morning.