The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, November 2, 2004
The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed
(All Souls Day)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Isaiah 25:6,7-9
Psalm 25:6,7b,17-18,20-21
Romans 6:3-9
John 11:17-27

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

This one day in the liturgical year the Church places our attention on the souls of all the faithful departed, even though we remember and pray for our deceased every day. Is it to concentrate our prayer intentions as though they will reap more benefit for the deceased, or is it to remind us, the living, that we too one day will be counted among the dead? Perhaps it is for both reasons.

On this day we're reminded that Christ has destroyed death; but it isn't an automatic guarantee for each of us. We rejoice that by our baptism into Christ we were "baptized into His death." (Romans 6:3) "It's only if we've grown into union with Him through a death like His, that we'll be united with Him in the resurrection." (Romans 6:5)

Today would be a good time for us to evaluate how we're doing regarding our growing into union with Christ. Much of that process involves the hundreds of choices we make in a given day, to always choose the path and the means that gives honor and glory to Christ, rather than to ourselves and our earthly ambitions. Growing into union with Christ takes work and time, with prayer as our foundation. We have the Church to serve as our guide and to provide nourishment and forgiveness for us while on this journey. As we pray for the holy souls, we ask that they too will assist us in whatever way possible.

May all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace,
and may we too one day be counted among their numbers,
with our union with Christ joyfully realized.
Amen.

- Joan of Jesus, OCDS
(jmurphy at utica dot edu)

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posted by joachim at 4:14 AM