With All Souls In God

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, strengthen our relationships with those who have gone before us to God through prayer and forgiveness.  Amen.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today’s feast of All Souls and scripture texts that accompany it challenge us to become aware of the ecumenical and universal quality of life with God beyond death’s passage. On the other side of the grave, there is no room for the biases and prejudices that separate people from each other on a regular basis. There will be no distinctions between black and white, rich and poor; there will be no one labelled freak or lunatic. There will be only great souls united with all other great souls from time immemorial; all will be one in the Great-God-Soul who called each into being, who called each to death and then to life eternal.

It seems only logical to prepare for eternity by following its all-inclusive and non-prejudicial policies in the here and now. Today’s liturgy challenges the members of the praying assembly to recognize and co-operate with the power of God’s grace so that they may be transformed.

In the first reading from Lamentations 3:17-26,we get the picture of a man who was tempted to despair, but finds help in the "steadfast love of the Lord", "his mercies" and "faithfulness". This is no longer merely the God of the past, this is the God who is dealing with him personally now. Therefore he can say, the Lord is "my portion". In the 2nd reading (1 Cor 15: 51-57), Paul emphasizes his faith in transformation: "For the trumpet will sound, ...and we will be changed" In the Gospel (Mt 11:25-30), we hear Jesus speaking to men driven to weariness and despair: "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest"

Though we remain confident in these promises, many of us may celebrate this feast of All Souls with a sense of regret. Many “if only’s” may well up in our heavy hearts. If only I had said I was sorry… If only I had been more patient with my spouse, my children, my aging parents, my in-laws, my boss, myself… For those who wish to lay their regrets to rest, today’s feast can be appreciated as an opportunity to strengthen our relationships with those who have gone before us to God. It can be a time to pray for them, to ask for their forgiveness and to realize our union with them in God, in Christ, in the Spirit.

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