2 November 2018 - The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed - All Souls Day - John 6:37-40

      On November 1 and 2 each year, we celebrate All Saints Day and All Souls Day, two great feasts in our Church’s liturgical year.  When we think about the community of saints in our Church, there are several different categories.  First, there are the saints who have died, who are in communion with God, who see him face-to-face and are living with him for all eternity.  Second, we have those of us who are members of the pilgrim church living here on earth, proclaiming God’s kingdom with our words and our actions, yearning for that day when we will be in ultimate union with God.  The third group is that group os saints we remember today. These are those souls who have died, but who are not quite ready for union with God, who are not quite ready to meet him face-to-face. These are the souls we remember today on All Souls Day, who are in process of purification, who are being prepared for union with God. I am sure that all of us in our humility acknowledge that are far from perfect, that we have our flaws, our weaknesses, and our growing edges.  So, in many ways, it is natural for us to have compassion and love for those souls in purgatory, to aide them with our prayers and our best wishes.  

      On All Souls Day throughout the world, this day is commemorated in many different ways. The graves of our loved ones may be decorated with flowers and favorite foods, flags and momentos, framed photographs and colorful decorations.  Family members go into cemeteries to wash the graves stones, to prune and clean.  Many Catholic countries declare All Saints Day a national holiday so that families may honor and commemorate their deceased loved ones and ancestors.  In Ecuador, where I served as a missionary, they even had a special drink they would have each year on All Souls Day - colada morada - made of berries and special grains.  

     On All Souls Day, one generation reaches out to another.  Although we naturally remember our family members and loved ones today, we are also to think about those who may not have anyone to remember them.  The will of the father is that we all remain part of the community of saints, that we all have eternal life through his Son, and that we will be raised up by him on the last day. We reach out to that chain of life that never breaks. Today, our prayers unite with the community of saints in heaven and with all believers throughout the world.