A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[668] Wisdom 3:1-9 Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 Romans 5:5-11 Romans 6:3-9

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life” – John 6:40

Often when someone close to us dies, all we can think about is our Earthly loss. When my grandfather passed away in May, I was often saddened when I thought about how I, as well as his children and wife, would never see him during our lives again. Although it is easy to get caught up in the loss we suffer on Earth when someone we love dies, there is something to be incredibly joyous about. Our faithful loved ones are in their true home with our loving, merciful God! This far outweighs our loss on Earth because our loved one’s soul is “in peace” and “abide[s] with [God] in love” (Wis 3: 3, 9). I am greatly consoled by this knowledge, and I find myself happy that my grandfather, who had a close relationship with Christ, is now living in God’s glorious Kingdom.

St. Paul elaborates in the second reading just how amazing the gift of Christ’s suffering on the cross was to us. Christ freed us from the chains of sin when he died on the cross! This means that we are no longer bound by our sin in death. As long as we have faith in Christ and work to bring about his Kingdom in our lives, he promises us eternal life with him in heaven. As hard as it can be to lose people we dearly love, we can find comfort and joy in knowing that our faithful loved ones are in their true home living in the eternal love of their heavenly Father. Let us pray that the souls of the deceased find rest with our loving God on this, the Commemoration of All Souls Day.