Thirty first Sunday :A : All Souls' Day

"PRAYING FOR THE DEPARTED SOULS"

First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6-9
Second Reading Revelations 21: 1-7
Gospel Reading : John  6: 37-40

   *First Reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. The Prophet assures the people of Israel of a time when the Lord God will destroy death forever and will wipe away the tears from everyone. There will be gladness and rejoicing when the salvation of the Lord comes.

   * Second reading is from the book of Revelations. St. John in his vision sees the passing away of the first heaven and the first earth and the vision of a new heaven and a new earth. In his vision , he sees the new Jerusalem where there is neither sadness, nor pain nor death. Christ the Alpha and the Omega who has made all things will make everything new.

"Eternal Life Through Faith in Jesus"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. In the Gospel Jesus promises His disciples and us that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. He also promises that those who died in Christ will rise again at the last day.
Today's celebration of All Souls' day is  based on our faith in Jesus and faith in the resurrection of the dead. Today, we pray for all the dead, especially all those who are not in full communion with God, as their sins are here on earth and in need of remission. The physical harm they have done still being present in the world. Today we pray for them and our prayers make sense to the extent , we are able to forgive their failures and shortcomings and we ask God to do the same. All souls day is a day of mercy, of universal mercy, a day of forgiveness. We pray for our departed souls and offer Holy Mass for them. Because we believe that death is not the end, but a way that leads to eternal life promised by Jesus.
This celebration of All Souls day should remind us also of our own death which is inevitable. It must help us to be ever ready to meet the Lord when he calls us out of this world.
"May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace".
"It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins" -2 Mac.12:46

Twenty Nineth Sunday: A: Mission Sunday

     "MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL NATIONS"

First Reading: Isaiah 60:1-6
Second Reading: Romans 10:9-18
Gospel Reading:  Matthew 28:16-20

   *First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. The Prophet speaks in glowing terms of his vision of the restored and glorified city of Jerusalem. He assures the people in exile that all nations will come to Jerusalem and it will be light to all nations. There will be abundance of wealth in the city and the praise of the Lord will be proclaimed.

   * Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to the Romans. Paul explains to the Christians in Rome that every one who believes and confesses that Jesus is the Lord will be saved. There is no distinction between the Jews and Gentiles with regard to salvation. Hence Paul says, justification is through faith/belief and salvation through confession of that faith. He praises preachers of the good news. Through their  preaching of Christ, others come to know Jesus and have faith in Him.

    "Mission Command of Jesus"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mathew. Jesus after His resurrection met His disciples on a mountain and gave the mission command to them.
1. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations
2. I am with you always to the close of age.
Therefore as commanded by Jesus, the Gospel (good news) is to be proclaimed to everyone. The good news is that the love and foregiveness  of the Heavenly Father is available to everyone without exception. Jesus also assures His continued presence in the World till the end of times.
Based on this Mission Command , the Church celebrates the Mission Sunday every year for the following reasons.
1.To proclaim the Good News to areas where it is yet to be proclaimed
2. To support the efforts of the missionaries working in different parts of the world through prayer and financial support
3. Living as true disciples of Christ by standing for values of Christ: Love, truth and justice for everyone. 
"World Mission Day is a privileged moment when the faithful of various continents engage in prayer and concrete gestures of solidarity to support of the young Churches in mission lands" - Pope Francis
"World Mission Day is also an occasion to rekindle the desire and moral obligation to take joyful part in the mission ad gentes"- Pope Francis.