REMEMBERING THE DEAR DEPARTED
Introduction: Today we celebrate the memory of all the faithful who have been called to the presence of our heavenly Father. We bless God for the many ways they have enriched our families, our communities and our life of faith. We pray that as we remember their names before God this day, they will remember us. The faith and the love that bound us together with them in this life still bind us in their new and eternal life.
First Reading: Isaiah 25: 6 to 7
Second Reading: Revelations 21: 1 to 7
Gospel Reading: John 6: 37 to 40
*First reading is from the book of Prophet Isaiah. Isaiah assures the people of Israel of a time where the Lord God will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from everyone. There will be great 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. In his vision, he sees the new Jerusalem where there is neither sadness, nor pain, nor death. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end), who has made all things. He will make everything new.
Eternal life through faith in Jesus Today's Gospel reading is from St. John. Jesus promises the following: 1. He promises His disciples and us that those who believe in Him will have eternal life. 2. He promises that those who died in Christ will rise again on the last day. The celebration of All Souls' Day by the universal Church is based on our faith in Jesus and our faith in the resurrection of the dead. We pray for our dear departed, especially for those who are not in full communion with God, as due to the sins committed by them during their life on earth, they are in need of remission. The physical harms they might have done are still being present in the world. Today we pray for them and our prayers make sense to the extent that we are able to forgive their failures and shortcomings. We earnestly 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 dear departed souls and remember them during the Holy Mass, the perfect sacrifice. We do believe that death is not the end, but a way that leads to eternal life as promised by the Lord. The 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 earthly life. The book of Maccabeus says: "It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins." (2Mac. 12:46)
"May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace."
Conclusion: Death is not a door into the dark but it is a dark door to the light. Those we have loved and all the faithful departed have passed through that door. Today during the Eucharistic celebration we remember all of them. We pray that their prayers will support our own hope as we continue our journey in faith. Our journey is the road that will take us to eternal joy in heaven. St. Alphonse Ligouri says: "This earth is for us a battlefield where we have to fight and conquer in order to be saved. But when we reach heaven our state is changed. There will be no more toil, but rest, no more fear, but security, no more sadness or weariness, but gladness and Joy Eternal." Praised be Jesus!
May the Lord Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, bless you and grant eternal life to the faithful departed. Amen.
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. "YouTube/Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph, November 2, 2025." Thanks.)
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