The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, November 2, 2005
The Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
(All Souls)

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Wisdom 3:1-9
Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Romans 5:5-11 or: Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

It is said that grief is not about the deceased, but rather it is about ourselves and our coming to some degree of acceptance about our loved one's death. Though the Church sets aside this day to focus on our deceased loved ones and pray for them, it might be a good time also to focus on ourselves.

Our Scripture readings for the day are full of hope and love. It is difficult to feel sadness when we appreciate the eternal reward our loved ones are hopefully experiencing. (We pray that this is the case) But where will WE be many years hence, or whenever God chooses to call us home? The First Reading makes reference to "the souls of the just.” (Wisdom 3:1-9) Would our family members and friends refer to us as a just person? It’s worth pondering.

The Gospel reading describes that "Christ will not turn away anyone who comes to Him." (John 6:37-40) We can ask the very real question: Have we come before Christ enough that He will know us? (Now obviously He knows us, as He created us, but have we attempted to build a relationship with Christ?) Do we use Christ as our “emergency room” ...a place to get Band-Aids and to heal us when we have problems? Or, is the relationship more an ongoing relationship like one would have with a friend? We hope the latter is true. Perhaps today we might implore the souls of the just to help us on our journey. They are our role models for eternity!

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