taken 10 29 2006

 

taken 10 29 2006

 

taken 10 29 2006

 

November 2 2006

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

Wis 3:1-9 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them,and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth,and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.

Ps 25:6 and 7b, 17-18, 20-21R. (1) To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Remember that your compassion, O LORD,and your kindness are from of old. In your kindness remember me,because of your goodness,
O LORD.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Relieve the troubles of my heart,and bring me out of my distress. Put an end to my affliction and my suffering; and take away all my sins.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.
Preserve my life, and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you. Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, because I wait for you, O LORD.
R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Rom 6:3-9 Brothers and sisters: Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection. We know that our old self was crucified with him, so that our sinful body might be done away with, that we might no longer be in slavery to sin. For a dead person has been absolved from sin. If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more; death no longer has power over him.

Jn 6:37-40 Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

The promise is that all who believe will have eternal life and be raised up on the last day. There is a gospel song about keeping my "eyes on the prize." The journey may be long or trying but the reason for the walk and knowing that I am walking with God each step no matter what happens, is what keeps me on the path as a believer.

I have many thoughts and prayers for the faithful departed. On this day I often think first of my mother who lived and died in great faith and love. There are many more who I will remember today. As a hospice nurse and at some other times, I have had the privilege to be with people at the moment of their death. Their time with me was a gift to me and also an affirmation and testament to my faith in God.
Today I thank God for the many blessings received and in quiet times throughout the day will recall with a grateful heart those faithful departed that I have known.