I always hear it at Mass and talks given by priests. I read about it in books and even in the Bible. But I didn’t really take to heart the importance of praying for the dead. I used to think that people who passed on already had their chance in life. We prayed for them and offered Mass during their wake and that’s it.

But what about those who were not able to hear the Word of God proclaimed to them? What about those who heard but did not understand fully? Or what about those who reject Jesus because they didn’t understand what they were doing? Will they be damned to hell? It didn’t make sense to me.

As the Church continues its mission, She doesn’t forget those who’ve gone before us. They’re included in our prayers. So I started to do that—to pray for them daily and ask God’s mercy to accept them into His Kingdom. 

Edwin Marcelo (imboodoo@gmail.com)

reflect

“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” (St. Paul of the Cross)

Eternal rest grant to all the poor souls in purgatory, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they all rest in peace. Amen.

All Souls, pray for us.

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

As we remember our departed loved ones today, we are reminded to pray and sacrifice for one another. The Scriptures teach us about the power of penance to overcome sin. Penance purifies us of our past sins. However, let us remember that the greatest way to overcome sin is to love more.

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

R: The Lord is kind and merciful.

⁸ Merciful and gracious is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. ¹⁰ Not according to our sins does he deal with us, nor does he requite us according to our crimes. (R) ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. ¹⁴ For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust. (R) ¹⁵ Man’s days are like those of grass; like a flower of the field he blooms; 16 the wind sweeps over him and he is gone, and his place knows him no more. (R) ¹⁷ But the kindness of the Lord is from eternity to eternity toward those who fear him, and his justice toward children’s children ¹⁸ among those who keep his covenant and remember to fulfill his precepts. (R)

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

Once again, we reflect on God’s goodness and His merciful love. Because of our sinfulness, we know this is the only hope for our salvation. Today, as we commend our loved ones to the Lord, let us reflect on the mercy of God and thank Him from the depths of our hearts. Let us be confident 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 did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, 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 assures us that there will always be a place for us in His Father’s house in heaven. God longs to save each of us from the destruction of sin and to offer the gift of eternal life. As we pray for the faithful departed, let us trust that God has done all that He can for them. Let us also encourage our loved ones to take a step of faith toward the Lord while time still allows.

Gospel Acclamation

Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 

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 ISAIAH 45 - 48 today.

King of Pain

Every Sunday, I write a blog on popular music, relating it with the Gospel or liturgical celebration. I always want to show how God uses secular music to convey the truth that He loves us so much. With our twin celebrations of All Saints’ Day yesterday and All Souls’ Day today, I am inspired to listen over and over to Sting’s 1983 hit “King of Pain.”

Today, we pray and hope that those still undergoing purification or purgation  may soon enter heaven. Sting’s “King of Pain” captured so well these two realities of All Souls’ Day—purification and hope. The beat, the music, and the lyrics are dark and melancholic at first, but as you get the feel of “King of Pain” with Sting’s distinctive voice, you will realize that it is actually about those who struggle with sadness, even depression, yet are filled with hope in God.

We are all kings of pain, aren’t we? No matter how much we extoll the redemptive nature of death—that is, not as an end, but a beginning of eternal life—we cannot miss the sadness and pain it brings. And that is what hope is all about: hope does not remove sadness and pain. No matter how blissful heaven may be, either as a place or a condition of being one with God, we still deal with the pain and hurt of losing a beloved. To hope is more than positive thinking; in fact, true hope is accepting that things could even become worst like death, believing that there is a loving God who is life Himself, loving us until the end, and perfecting us in heaven. 

Fr. Nick Lalog

reflection questions

What is your most painful experience in recent years? How did it purify you?

Lord Jesus, You are the true King of pain. Help me forge on with life, always hoping—even for just a piece of heaven here on Earth—to celebrate life each day until I make it to the other side, like my departed loved ones. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ___________________________________