All Saints' Day 2026: A Cheering Crowd

Bleary-eyed, she climbed onto the bus which would take her to the starting line of the New York City marathon. Regardless of her hours of training, she wondered if she was ready. Like any moment when someone is fully alive, she was scared and excited and would soon be exhausted and elated when she crossed the finish line.

Looking at her phone, there were texts from well-wishers. Friends who had traveled into the city to support her took their places along the route and did all that they could to make their presence known by cheering her on. It was a powerful moment which taught one of life’s great lessons: people can do amazing things when they have a team behind them.

It did not go unnoticed that all of this took place on November 1, All Saints Day - a day when people who go to church remember and celebrate those who have crossed life’s finish line and cheer on those of us still running the race that is set before us. Knowing such people are behind us can make us achieve things we thought were impossible. Sometimes we hear their cheers loud and clear, other times it’s just knowing they’re there that makes the next step possible.

It was true for a courageous young woman this morning, and it’s true for all of us this day, in particular, and every day we have left.