SATURDAY NOVEMBER 2, 2024
SATURDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK OF THE ORDINARY TIME B
COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED.
Wisdom 3:1-9
Romans 5:5-11
John 6:37-40
UPHOLDING THE DOCTRINE OF THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL
God’s design is that all souls shall return to him after our earthly sojourn. It reenforces the doctrine of the immortality of our souls and our belongingness to God. Even though we still assert that sins and iniquity separates us from our God and keeps us away from attaining our goal of returning to our creator. But God did not leave us to die in our sins or to be condemned forever. He willed that temporal punishment and cleansing can be administered to souls through the process of purgation that at last souls can be cleanse and return to him especially those that have not merited eternal death or received eternal punishment.
Today, the Church prays for all souls in this temporary purgation. That is, the souls that are undergoing this purification and purgation before they can attain the blessed vision of God. In this way, our prayers, acts of penitent, charitable works and mortification carried out by the living, the temporal punishment due to sins committed by our departed brothers and sister will be forgiven and they can be purified and attain eternal glory and salvation.
The church therefore holds dearly the mercy of God in attaining our beatific vision and calling all souls to the eternal life.
The celebration of the departed souls is therefore upheld each year to commend to the mercy and compassion of God departed souls of our dear ones, so that they be released from the punishment due to their sins.
The church asks us to pray for their souls, to remember the departed, to commend them to God’s love and mercy, to visit their grave sites, and cemeteries, and light a candle for them, pray for them, make charitable sacrifices for the benefit of their souls.
It is a praiseworthy tradition of the Church dating back into the Jewish world and even into our traditional settings whereby we make atonement and reparations for the benefit of the souls of the departed. It is a belief also in the immortality of the soul and the mercy and benevolent compassion of our God.
It is a further boast to our faith that we must care and maintain relationship with our departed ones and uphold them in great prayers and commitment.
As we pray and commend our departed loved ones to the mercy and goodness of God today, we ask that our prayers be accepted, so that our departed brothers and sisters may be released from their sins and attain eternal life in heaven.
Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of all the faithful departed, our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, relatives and friends through the mercy of God Rest In Peace. Amen
