31st Sunday Ordinary Time – All Souls Day November 2, 2025

Readings: Wisdom 3.1-9  Revelation 21.1-5a,6b,7  Luke 7.11-17

Today we reflect the mystery of death and our loved ones who have died. This become part of our reflection on the communion of saints – those in glory, those being purified, and those of us who are still here.  We really do not know where our loved ones are, but we have great hope for their salvation. It is always possible that they are experiencing purification in purgatory. Purgatory is a part of heaven. It is an aspect of the great mercy of God. The souls in purgatory have already been accepted into heaven. In purgatory we are given the opportunity to be cleansed, to be transformed. Sin has two effects: guilt and temporal punishment. When we are forgiven our sin, the guilt is wiped away. But there is a need to “repair” the damage our sin has caused, so we have to do penance as a certain just punishment for our sins. If when we die we have not sufficiently made reparation for our sin, God gives us the opportunity to do so in purgatory.

While the scriptures do not mention purgatory directly, the reading from the Second Book of Maccabees (12:38ff) talks about what a good thing it is that they have offered sacrifice for the slain soldiers. It is a good things, a very noble thing to so. If they are already in glory, they do not need our help; if they are in hell, our help will not do them any good. So there must be something more.

Today we recall purgatory and the grace that it is. We also recall our responsibility to help those being purified by praying for them. We are called to love God and our neighbor. We need to remember our neighbors who have died, so especially pray and sacrifice for them today. Today is also a good day to reflect on my own mortality. I will not be here forever. My rising to the glory of heaven will depend on my following Jesus in His way of dying and rising. In the gospel of John (14: 5, 6), Thomas asks Jesus, “How can we know the way?” He wants more details. He wants a map. But Jesus gives answer that is much greater than any map. He tells Him: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no one comes to the Father but through me.” I do not have to know everything but I must know Jesus. He is my way to glory. I can be sure that nothing can separate us or my deceased loved ones – from the love of God that comes to us in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Rom 8:39).

                 Fr. Terry.