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Feast of All Souls
Saint Joseph Church, Warrenton
November 2, 2008

(Wis 3:1-9; Rom 5: 5-11; Jn 6: 37-40)

This is the first All Souls Mass I have celebrated having lost a parent in death, my dear father who died this past August. I am sure that all of you gathered here today on this Feast also lovingly remember your beloved parents, family members and friends who have died.

Perhaps like you, I have many and varied emotions today: there is a certain sadness and longing; there is a spirit of thanks and gratitude and a renewed understanding of the commitment and challenge I must embrace.

There is sadness in my heart in missing the physical presence, countless experiences and daily conversations I shared with my father. It is this sadness that also reminds me of one of God’s most precious gifts — the gift of love. Love bears an emptiness at the time of the death of someone close to us. It is that same love, however, that never wants someone dear to us to continue to suffer or to be deprived of the abundant blessings that await them in the Kingdom of Heaven.

There is a spirit of thanks and gratitude in my heart today, and I am sure in yours, as the Readings for this Feast remind us of those blessings. From the Book of Wisdom: “The souls of the just are in the hand of God-----and grace and mercy are with them.” From Saint Paul: “We who have died with Christ, will also live with Him—death has no power over us.” And from Jesus in today’s Gospel: “Those who believe in Me will have eternal life----they shall be raised on the last day.” The Feast of All Souls is a reminder of the privilege and duty that is ours to pray daily for our deceased family members and friends and all the faithful departed, so they may know and celebrate fully the promises of the Lord Our God.

There is a renewed understanding of the commitment and challenge that we who have lost loved ones in death must embrace. Yesterday, on the Solemnity of All Saints, we honored those who have been raised to the altar and canonized. We also remembered those special people in our lives who offered a saintly example. They remain for us a source of inspiration. Yet, there is also a challenge.

My father died on the Feast of the Transfiguration, the day the Lord gave His disciples (who were beginning to see defeat in the midst of suffering) a glimpse of His glory. The Lord was transfigured before them on the mountain and the disciples were filled with joy. Yet, they were not able to linger in that moment. They were called to go down from the mountain and to go forth to proclaim to others Christ living and reigning.

Our challenge is similar. We cannot merely have heartfelt sentiments for our loved ones. We must go forth daily and imitate their saintly example of faith, goodness and compassion so that they continue to live on in each one of us. We do so in the sure and certain hope that one day we will dwell with them and the Lord Our God in the Kingdom where life has no end.

At this Eucharist and at every Mass we pray for the faithful departed; we entrust them to the Lord and we celebrate the truth that by His cross and Resurrection, Jesus Christ has destroyed the power of evil; He has turned darkness to light, suffering to glory and death to life.

Thus, with great love for our family members and friends who have died and with deep trust in God’s promises, we pray with renewed faith: “Eternal rest grant unto them.....”