Homily: All Souls Day

Today, on All Souls Day, Diane and I celebrate our 52nd wedding anniversary. All Souls Day is really a rather odd day for a wedding; indeed, back then it required the bishop’s dispensation. And I’d certainly not dare to forge any kind of connection between marriage and purgatory. Perhaps I’d better change the subject… 

All Souls Day is a really a day when we’re led to contemplate death. Sadly, so many today believe that death is the end; that nothing follows. And so they avoid even thinking about it because to do so would drive them to the depths of despair. How sad for them. And how blessed we are, full of faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, Our Savior, and full of hope in His promise of eternal life. 

How did St. Paul put it in our second reading? “…we too might live in newness of life.” “Newness of life” are particularly pleasing words for those of us now experiencing the oldness and oddness of this life. It’s all, Paul tells us, because of the promise of Our Lord’s Resurrection: 

“For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.” 

Yes, God puts in the heart of every living person a desire for eternal life and happiness with Him. While death claims each of us at our appointed time, God gives us something which death cannot touch -- his own divine life and sustaining power. We need only accept Him in faith, and live that faith. Jesus, of course, said it best:

“For 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." 

He makes so many wondrous promises, doesn’t He? And because He always fulfills His promises, His Church calls us to celebrate God’s merciful love and the salvation of all who have gone before us. For today we not only think of and pray for those we have known and loved, but we also confront our own mortality. Today we pray for those who have died before us, and in doing so are reminded that we too will die. But death is nothing to fear; for Jesus will raise us up at the last judgment to live with him forever. As we prayed in today’s Psalm:

“To dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come…” 

He reminds us, too, that the Father doesn’t want Him to lose any entrusted to His care, but to lead us to eternal life. We must do our part and pray diligently for all our departed, remembering today those who have died in the hope of seeing God face to face. 

Remembering those who died after having sought God with a sincere heart. 

Remembering those who struggled to accept the gift of faith, those who so often slipped into despair. 

But we do not judge them, brothers and sisters, we leave that to the only One who knows their hearts. Indeed, the Father wants no one to be lost. And so, remembering all, we too can pray those words we heard from the Book of Wisdom:

“…chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of Himself.” 

In my own remembering, decades of names and faces pass before me – the many lives that touched mine with love and wisdom in times of sorrow and joy. For each I remember a characteristic, a word, or a moment that captures the person for me; and pray that each now shares in the glory of seeing God face to face. Like you and me, they were sinners, but we trust in His mercy for them and for ourselves. Filled with hope, we look forward to joining them one day. Only then shall we know God as He is; only then shall He make us like Himself. 

 As he begins the Liturgy of the Eucharist Father Vitalis will invite us to lift up our hearts in praise and thanksgiving to God. It is good that we do so. Even though our hearts are sorrowful at the loss of those we love, we should indeed lift them up. We praise God on this special day, thanking Him for these precious lives, for these unique and unrepeatable lives we were privileged to share. 

 Above all, give thanks to God for the gift of eternal life He offers us through His Son, Jesus Christ. With that promise before us, we recall the words of Jesus to His disciples on the night before His own death:

“…Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God. Have faith also in me.” 

Yes, brothers and sisters, today we pray that our Lord Jesus has taken each into His loving embrace, that He’s wiped away the tears, and given them the first taste of that eternal joy we all hope to share.

One more thing...Before Mass someone asked me if I were going to say something about the election. Of course, we are not supposed to tell you whom you should vote for. But I think I can tell you what you should vote for. Vote for Life, brothers and sisters. Vote for Life!