Commemoration of All Souls
November 2
John 14:1-6
A priest was once asked to explain to a group of school children what purgatory is all about. He said: Just imagine that you went out to play rugby at the play ground which was all wet and muddy. After an hour of playing rugby, your mum said that grandma will pay you a visit in about an hour. Of course, the first thing that you have to do is to go and have a shower and get some nice clean clothes in order to welcome your grandma. That is the same as what purgatory is all about. God, like your grandma, would not really mind whatever you look like but because you consider your grandma as somebody who is special, you take a shower and wear nice and clean clothes so that you can be presentable. The same applies to our God. God loves us so much that he wouldn’t really mind whatever we look like. However, because we consider God to be so special, we “clean” ourselves in purgatory so that when the time comes that we finally get to meet our God, we’ll be presentable.
This is the purpose of today’s commemoration of all the faithful departed. We have to admit that not all of those who have passed away are in a state of grace. Some of them, when they die still have some venial sins, which are not so serious that they could send them to hell, but they are not yet ready to enter heaven. So, in a way, they are still “suffering” in the sense that the time they get to see God and enjoy heaven is delayed.
The gospel reading for today is about Jesus telling disciples that he was about to leave them. Of course, his disciples are worried for they don’t know where Jesus is going and how they could follow him. However, Jesus assured them that they should not be afraid for he will be preparing a place for them and he will be coming back to take them to himself. Thomas though said, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?” Then Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
We here on earth, can help the poor souls in purgatory in order to hasten their journey and finally be admitted to heaven. The souls in purgatory can’t do anything for themselves anymore for their chance to do go something good is now finished. However, we here on earth, by our offerings of prayers and Masses, can help them so that they can enter heaven faster. Then when these souls have entered heaven, they can also help us by interceding for us to God and guide us in our lives here on earth.
All lives that God has created are important because he loves and found everything that he has done to be good. That’s why God wants everyone to be with him. He doesn’t want anybody to be lost. Yet, justice naturally tells us we must be made worthy before we can be received by our God. I think this is the reason why purgatory is made available for those who are worthy to enter the heavenly kingdom but still needs some “purifying” before they can be admitted.
So, as we commemorate our faithful departed, let us do our part by praying for them and offering Masses. So that when the time comes that they get admitted into the heavenly kingdom, they in turn will pray and intercede for us so that we too can be with them and all will be reunited in the kingdom of God.
* Please note that there are a choice of readings given for today.