The Souls Of The Just Are In The Hand Of God
Introduction
Death will always remain a mystery and a pain. Yet as Christians we live in faith and hope. If we had enough faith, we would face death without fear and welcome it as a homecoming in the house of the Father. In our faith there is no place for the doubt that in death God will abandon his people, the work of his hands, his image and likeness, for whom Christ died and rose from the dead. God will not let us perish for ever. In Christ we have God’s promise that we will rise from the dead for glory and eternal joy. In this hope, we commend today all the dead into the hands of the living God.
(2nd and Gospel readings chosen from alternatives for the 3 Masses.)
First Reading Introduction: We Are Made for Life!
An Old Testament author from the century before Christ expresses his belief in everlasting life: God has made us for life. To the virtuous God gives “shalom,” peace, that is, himself and all that is good.
1 Reading: Wisdom 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.
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
Or R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness,
I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose.;
beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul. R.
He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff that give me courage. R.
You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. R.
Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come. R.
Second Reading Introduction: The Risen Lord Is On Our Side
The Father did not spare his own Son from death, so that he could bring us life. So, neither death nor life can separate us from the love of God.
2 Reading: Romans 8:31-35, 37-39
But no, Christ has been raised from the dead and he comes before all those who have fallen asleep. A human being brought death; a human being also brings resurrection of the dead. All die for being Adam’s, and in Christ all will receive life. However, each one in his own time: first Christ, then Christ’s people, when he visits them. Then the end will come, when Christ delivers the kingdom to God the Father, after having destroyed every rule, authority and power. For he must reign and put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed will be death. As Scripture says: God has subjected everything under his feet. When we say that everything is put under his feet, we exclude, of course, the Father who subjects everything to him. When the Father has subjected everything to him, the Son will place himself under the One who subjected everything to him. From then on, God will be all in all.
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. “The King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.’ “Then the good people will ask him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, or a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to see you?’ The King will answer, ‘Truly, I say to you: whenever you did this to these little ones who are my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left: ‘Go, cursed people, out of my sight into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels! For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; I was a stranger and you did not welcome me into your house; I was naked and you did not clothe me; I was sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ “They, too, will ask: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, thirsty, naked or a stranger, sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ The King will answer them: ‘Truly, I say to you: whatever you did not do for one of these little ones, you did not do for me.’ “And these will go into eternal punishment, but the just to eternal life.”
Commentary
The death of a loved one, and particularly of a mother, leaves a feeling of uprootedness that is even stronger than that of leaving one’s own country. It is as if the ground beneath your feet were suddenly removed. The death of someone near gives an almost physical feeling of pain. It is certainly unexplainable. The mind refuses to believe that it is true that the person we had near us and with whom we had a close relationship is no longer physically with us, even if sometimes we have the feeling they are in the room, we can hear their voice continuing to speak to us.
It is a pain that knows no words. If it knows no words and goes beyond comprehension, however, it is not beyond a sense of hope and life. Paradoxically, those of us who are believers, feel an intense pain and at the same time a great peace and joy in knowing that the people we so loved are enjoying the light and the presence of God.
This seems to be the mystery and paradox of the Day of the Dead. We feel the pain of seeing our loved ones depart this world and at the same time we have the certainty that they are alive in a new and different way. Words might not be able to express this mystery, but the celebrations, breads, altars, photos, music, and food with which we celebrate their mysterious presence among us can. All these things announce the eternal life brought to us by Christ.
Blessing
We have prayed today
for those who have died,
known or unknown, close or distant.
It was an occasion for us to deepen our faith
in the resurrection promised
to the deceased and to ourselves.
We believe in a living God
who wants all to live in his love and joy.
May our God of life bless you all,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Let us go in the peace of the Lord. R/ Thanks be to God.
>>>>Hymn/Prayer<<<<
- Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.