COMMEMORATION OF ALL SOULS: EMBRACING CHRIST’S PROMISE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

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Today, on the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day), we remember and pray for the souls of those who have departed from this world. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that: “All who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.” ( Catechism of the Catholic Church 1030-1032). In the light of this Church's teaching, Let’s meditate on the Gospel of the day: John 6:37-40.

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me. And this is the will of Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those He has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

In these words, Jesus Christ reassures us of the Father’s loving plan for humanity. The Father desires to draw all souls to Himself, and Christ, in His obedient love, embraces this Divine Will. He speaks of an open invitation: “All those the Father gives me will come to me.” This is a call to all, regardless of our past, our sins, or our failures. Jesus will not drive away those who come to Him. This promise is a source of immense consolation for us, especially as we remember those who have departed.

In John 12:32, Jesus proclaimed His eternal will to draw all souls to Himself, to save all. In Christ, God gives all the possibility of salvation, even at the last minutes. We all know the story of one of the two brigands crucified with Jesus. One was saved because he humbled himself, acknowledged his past sin (received instantly the sacrament of reconciliation), and prayed: “Lord Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom”! In response to such a great expression of humility and repentance, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” God’s infinite mercy is offered to human liberty.

Jesus emphasizes that He has come to do the Father’s will, which is to lose none of those entrusted to Him but to raise them up at the last day. Resurrection is an essential aspect of our Christian faith. This is the reason why St. Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised from the dead, our preaching is useless and your faith is in vain” (Cfr. 1 Cor. 15:14). The promise of resurrection gives meaning to our earthly lives; it gives us hope that our beloved dead are not lost but are in the hands of a loving Savior who has conquered death itself. Faith in Resurrection gives new Perspective to our lives. I really wonder what life on earth could mean without the Resurrection and eternal life dimension.

In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of the last day, a day of resurrection and life. For those who look to the Son and believe in Him, there is the promise of eternal life. This belief is not merely an intellectual assent but a trustful surrender to Jesus, a relationship with Him that transcends death. We can think of what Jesus does for us each time we receive the Holy Communion; He prepares us for eternal life.

On this day, as we remember the souls of the departed, let us find solace in Christ’s words. Let us pray for our beloved dead, entrusting them to the merciful heart of Jesus. May our prayers be an expression of our hope in the resurrection and our faith in the eternal life promised to us.

As we meditate on these verses, let us also examine our own lives. Are we responding to Christ’s invitation? Are we living in a way that reflects our belief in eternal life? What if the Lord called us today; are we ready? Let us renew our commitment to follow Jesus, to accept His invitation of love, and to live in the hope of the resurrection. May this day deepen our faith and strengthen our hope in the promises of Christ, as we remember all the faithful departed. Amen.

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LET US PRAY

Heavenly Father, on this solemn day of remembrance of All the Departed Souls, on this day of remembrance of all the departed souls, we offer our prayers for the faithful departed. We trust in Your promise of eternal life through Your Son, Jesus Christ, and find comfort in His words that no soul is lost to Your infinite mercy.

May we live in hopeful anticipation of the resurrection, and embrace Your Divine Will in all things. As we honor the memory of our beloved dead, may we respond to Your loving invitation with faith and humility. We ask for the intercession of the Holy Spirit to prepare ourselves for the joy of eternal communion with You. Amen.🙏🙏🙏



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