Breaking the Word

All Souls’ Day, Wednesday – 02^nd November 2022 — Gospel:         Jn 6,37-40

Promised Transition

As we commemorate All Souls Day, it evokes mixed feelings. On the one hand, we miss the presence of our loved ones who have gone before us; on the other hand, we are reminded that death is not the end of life, but it is the promised doorway to eternal life.  The Capuchin Crypt in Rome that contains skeletal remains of friars has this quote: “What you are now we used to be; what we are now you will be…,” to remind us about the swift passage of life on Earth and our own mortality. 2 Mac 12,44-45 points out that it is good to offer prayers and sacrifices for the dead. It is as sensible to pray for the dead as it is to pray for the living. Death, then, is a transition from earthly life to eternal life.

In the Gospel, Jesus promises to raise up all those who believe in him. Jesus proclaims that he has come to do his Father’s will. Part of the will of God includes his raising up all who believe in him and share in his life (death and resurrection). Even though the believer might experience physical death, yet he will live eternally. Eternal life is a gift, a grace that God gives us (Rom 6,23), but while we live we are exhorted to work out our salvation (Phil 2,12-13). Jesus, then, will not reject anyone who comes to him, nor will he force a soul to follow him in this life. We must freely choose, and the time for choosing Jesus is in this life. For those who refuse to acknowledge the life which Jesus offers to them, death is not a joyful transition to eternal life, but a sorrowful movement to eternal separation from God, whom they have chosen not to accept or with whom they didn’t want to have any relationships. In that case, death can be scary, particularly as we realize our own imperfections. Yet, the belief that we are striving to be faithful followers of Jesus, despite imperfections, opens up the fullness of eternal life. It gives an eschatological hope that we too, along with the dead, will join someday, to see God face to face.

All Saints Day, Tuesday – 01^st November 2022 — Gospel: Mt 5,1-12

Blessed Revelation

The Solemnity of all Saints reminds us that we are united with a galaxy of witnesses, who inspires, intercedes for us and challenges us to make the ‘universal call to holiness’ ours. A perusal of the book of saints will offer potential disappointment to anyone who hopes to become a saint: many suffered greatly to the faith, often to the point of death in most cruel ways. Yet, Saints are not from above; they are one among us. Their lives mirrored ours: our desires, our doubts, and our struggles to follow Jesus. Upon realizing the precious status of being the children of God, they dedicated their entire life to God, leaving behind all the pleasures of the earth. So, they remind us once again of the truth of our existence. They stand as milestones because they have gone before us and have reached their final destiny. Now, they show us the examples of how to live our Christian life meaningfully in different circumstances without losing our focus.

The Eight Beatitudes are a type of revelation that allows us a glimpse into the characters of Christ and those whom he calls disciples. Poor in spirit, they desire only what glorifies the Father. Mournful over true injustice, they do not shrink from solidarity in the suffering of others, even suffering for others’ sins. In them meekness reigns, not as in those who resign themselves to the evils of the world, but as in those who treat others with gentleness and patience in long suffering. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they do not seek violence but rather magnanimity in the light to establish truth. They offer mercy to others because they themselves have fully received it as a gift from God.  Pure of heart, they live a simplicity of intention for the things of God, not tainted by selfishness. Persecuted and insulted, they rejoice that they can suffer what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.