November 2, 2014
November 1/2, 2014
Driving around the past few days, it’s evident that, even though it is late in the season, the foliage is still beautiful. It is a little muted at this point but driving up 495 there still is a panoramic view of color and texture. How ironic is it that the season of winter, the time when the earth literally dies , is ushered in by such a spectacle in nature! We don’t usually associate death with such positive feelings. But as believers, the irony of death is that it is the way to a new life.
A few weeks ago we celebrated the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. Again we see the irony in the death of Jesus as portrayed in terms of triumph, not tragedy. For the central mystery of our faith is that Jesus had to die in order to gain new life , salvation, for us all. Death, not only for Jesus but for all, is the transition to life with God eternally.
That belief does not make death any easier. We all know the deep sadness and sense of loss we feel at the death of a loved one. We even call it a process of grief because saying good bye takes us a long time. We read about different stages of grief and all the ways we try to manage that loss. Every person’s grief is unique and reflective of the relationships that has ended. Grieving with all its ups and downs is the necessary journey we have to take after losing someone we love. There’s even a little book called “Good Grief” which elaborates on the importance of that process.
Grieving by no means negates our faith life but rather leads us on the way toward the realization of eternal life. The Good Shepherd guides us along that path.
Today we celebrate the Fast of All Souls who we believe have gone to their eternal reward with God. We pray with them and for them as the church has done for centuries. We believe that they continue to live their new life with God and we continue to communicate with them. All of our scripture readings this weekend speak of the hope and the promise of the Resurrection. Jesus died and rose again that we might follow in His footsteps.
As our first reading states: The souls of the just are in the hand of God and their hope is full of immortality and they shall be greatly blessed. And that is what we celebrate on this Feast of All Souls.