Gilderious Khonglah csc –
Readings: Wis 3: 1-9; Rom 5:5-11; Jn 6:37-40
Yesterday, we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints, and today we remember the faithful departed. The Church connects our reflection on those who have attained God’s glory with those who have died in faith and now sleep in peace. While we may wish to enter heaven immediately, we must ask ourselves: are we living as saints? Might we instead expect a time in a state of purification? Perfect love is necessary to see God face to face, and this process prepares us for that encounter. Today, we pray for souls in this state of purification, growing in love.
The first reading offers a dual perspective on loss. We may feel emotions like torment, foolishness, and anger regarding the deaths of our loved ones, interpreting them as punishments. However, the book of Wisdom encourages a more spiritually faithful response. Our faith reassures us that those we lose are now in God’s hands, at peace.
In the second reading, Paul speaks of justice, peace, grace, and hope built on our faith in Christ. This hope, which does not disappoint, is rooted in God’s power and promises. In the gospel, Jesus asserts that those given to him by the Father will not be lost and are assured eternal life.
This statement underscores the certainty of our salvation: those who believe in him are guaranteed to be raised on the last day. As Pope Francis reminds us, love is our pathway to God, guiding us in both life and in the state of purification. Let us hold on to this profound hope and trust in God’s promises.