Today we observe the Feast of All Souls, commemorating all the faithful departed. Our society has a tendency to deny the reality and inevitability of death. Most advertising we see focuses on the vitality of youth, trying to sell us anything that will make us look, feel and stay young and alive. Like Juan Ponce de Leon, we seem to be on a never-ending quest for the Fountain of Youth. This feast brings us back to earth as it reminds us of our mortality. Our physical bodies will die eventually no matter how hard we try to stay young. However, as Christians we believe that death is not “The End.” The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that “the souls of all who die in Christ's grace . . . are the People of God beyond death. On the day of resurrection, death will be definitively conquered, when these souls will be reunited with their bodies"(CCC 1052).
In today’s gospel, John 6:37-4040, Jesus tells us that “this is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” Yet, God gives all of us free will. We make our own choices even as we die. We can choose to “die in Christ’s grace,” or we can choose to reject God and, like many of the subjects in St. Matthew’s parables, be cast into the darkness “where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” If you are reading this Pastor’s Desk, I think it is safe to assume that you want to die in Christ’s grace. The great monk and mystic Thomas รก Kempis said, “Every action of yours, every thought, should be those of one who expects to die before the day is out. Death would have no great terrors for you if you had a quiet conscience … then why not keep clear of sin instead of running away from death? If you aren’t fit to face death today, it is very unlikely you will be tomorrow” (The Imitation of Christ, 1, 23, 1).
Each time we participate in the sacrifice of the Mass we pray for those who have died and gone before us marked with the sign of faith. And when we pray the Rosary, we ask our Blessed Mother to pray for us now and at the hour of our death. Praying for those who are dying or have died is a great act of love. We all need prayer. So today as we remember our departed family members and friends, let us pray for them.
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon them.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
Through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Merciful Father,
Hear our prayers and console us.
As we renew our faith in your son,
Whom you raised from the dead,
Strengthen our hope
That all our departed brothers and sisters
Will share in his resurrection,
Who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
One God, forever and ever.
AMEN
