Have you ever gotten into trouble for not following instructions? Once, I had to drive somewhere to attend an event. I was told that I should take a particular route to the venue, but because I thought I knew better, I insisted on taking matters into my own hands. I took the turns that I knew and the roads that I liked. Little did I know that there was a huge construction project along one of those roads. 

Four lanes funneled into just two. Then the turn I would take after that funneled into just one. Because of this, I arrived at the venue an hour late even though I left early.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus refers to Himself not as a way, a truth, and a life, but as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. This is not easy to accept, especially in the parts of our life where we think we know better. 

Jesus—He didn’t speak this to aggrandize Himself. It wasn’t for His gain but ours. Will we choose to trust, listen, and obey? Mon Reyes (rizmonreyes@gmail.com)

Reflect:

In what areas of your life do you need to invite Jesus in more?

Father, You are trustworthy. Help us to trust in You. Amen.

All Souls, pray for us.

First Reading | 2 Maccabees 12:43-46 (or Wisdom 3:1-9)

Today's reading shows what is probably the strongest Scriptural evidence for the Christian practice of praying for the dead. This is a good and holy thing to do. Prayer is efficacious and it can always be offered; there is a logic for praying for the dead. As we remember our departed loved ones today, let us commend them to the Lord and His mercy. 

⁴³ He then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, inasmuch as he had the resurrection of the dead in view; ⁴⁴ for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. ⁴⁵ But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. ⁴⁶ Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 116:5, 6, 10-11, 15-16 (or Psalm 103:8, 10, 13-14, 15-16, 17-18)

R: I will walk in the presence of the Lord in the land of the living.

5 Gracious is the Lord and just; yes, our God is merciful. (R) 6 The Lord keeps the little ones; I was brought low, and he saved me. (R) 10 I believed, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted;” 11 I said in my alarm, “No man is dependable.” (R) 15 Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones. 16 O Lord, I am your servant; you have loosed my bonds. (R)

Second Reading | Romans 8:31-35, 37-39 (or Romans 6:3-4, 8-9)

Today, we reflect again on God's goodness and merciful love. Because of our sinfulness, we know this is the only hope for our salvation. As we commend our departed loved ones to the Lord today, let us reflect on God's mercy and thank Him from our hearts. Let us never be afraid to approach Him who is full of compassion and love. 

³¹ Brothers and sisters: If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? ³³ Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits us. ³⁴ Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. ³⁵ What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? ³⁷ No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel | John 14:1-6 (or John 6:37-40)

Jesus promises a place for us in the Father's house in heaven. God desires that all of us will be saved from the destruction of sin and that we will receive the gift of eternal life. Let us pray for the faithful departed today with the knowledge that God has done everything in His power for them. Let us encourage our loved ones who are still living to make this step of faith while they still have the chance. 

Gospel Acclamation

This is the will of my Father, says the Lord, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life. 

¹ Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. ² In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. ⁴ Where I am going you know the way.” ⁵ Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” ⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read JONAH today.

God’s Mercy Knows No Bounds

In today’s Gospel, Jesus gave His last discourse to His Apostles. He assured them of the Father’s presence and protection. Jesus knew the challenges and difficulties His followers would face and go through. He wanted to encourage and motivate them to persevere. Jesus went as far as telling them that He would prepare a place for them in the Father’s house. Jesus’ plan was for them to be with Him at the appointed time.

This is very consoling. Saint Paul, in his letters, told the Early Christians that Jesus wanted to gather and reconcile us to Himself. In His intimate talk with the Father, He said no one was lost. He was committed to save everyone. When He died on the cross, He accomplished that. We are all important to God.

Jesus preached the Good News and did many miracles to reveal Himself. They would have been enough to know Him and recognize Him as the Messiah. In our case, His teachings should lead us to become good disciples. That is ideal. But, like the story of the Israelites, God was always faithful and they were always unfaithful. He is merciful. He always gives us a chance. Hopefully, we reconcile with God before we die. But we know it is not that easy.

And it becomes harder when one dies with sin. But God can still save us. We believe in purgatory, the state where souls still unworthy of heaven undergo cleansing through suffering. The Communion of Saints, which we profess in The Creed, tells us that we—those living here on earth, the saints in heaven, and the poor souls in purgatory—are all connected and can help each other in prayer. That’s why we offer Masses for those in purgatory. We are encouraged to do it. We thank those who never forget to pray for those souls. We beg the Lord for mercy.

Purgatory is no walk in the park. It will certainly give us divine justice for everything we have done here on earth. But it gives us hope. God’s mercy and compassion will be enough for us to endure and accept our suffering for the sake of being worthy to enter the Kingdom.

On this day, offer a prayer for the souls in purgatory. Give praise to God for His mercy. And never lose hope! Fr. Benny Tuazon

Reflection Questions:

Have you experienced God’s mercy? As a result, were you encouraged to share His mercy to others?

Have mercy on the poor souls in purgatory, Lord, especially the forgotten ones.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________________________