Sunday.blog
The Catholic Calendar for Sunday, November 2, 2003
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)
Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 25:6,7-9
Psalm 27:1,4,7-9,13-14
Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40
A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:
What beautiful scriptural readings for this day of commemorating our deceased loved ones! They blend to tell us again that we have a gentle, loving Father, that it is His will that not one of us be lost.
The first reading again refers to our baptism, when each of us was baptized into the death of Christ; and that through living a life as Christ guided and taught us to do, we can grow in union with Him. The word if in that reading is significant. God has given us free will, giving us the freedom to choose to live as Christ modeled, or to choose the ways of the world. It is up to us!
The Psalm is so appropriate, reminding us that our first priority is to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our lives. What else is there? Even the thoughts of any other options are frightening, but it comes back to using our free will as God, our Father, has desired. The Gospel reassures us that God will not reject anyone who comes to Him. What a statement! It is so reassuring and full of hope!
This day is set apart in the liturgical year to remind us to pray for the souls of the departed, but it also serves as a good reminder of how we are to live our lives. One day we too will be among the faithful departed. Let us have hope that we will be among the faithful gazing on the loveliness of the Lord! Can we not also now see His face in the poor, the lonely, the ill, the prisoner, the abandoned. If we do not look for Him and find Him here now how can we expect to see Him after we are departed?
One thing I ask of the Lord,
to dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life.
- Joan of Jesus, ocds (jmurphy at utica dot edu)
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