The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed
I sometimes forget how much of an influence my parents, grandparents, and friends have played in my development as a Christian. For me it’s often easy to overlook this because it’s so fundamental to who I am. It’s difficult for me to imagine not having had people in my life who serve as a role models and encouragers in Christian faith. That may be one reason I find myself resonating so much with the feast of All Souls.
After celebrating All Saints yesterday, today on the feast of All Souls the Church commemorates all of the faithful departed. The saints truly are models of holiness and devotion, yet sometimes it is difficult for us to identify with them precisely because they seem to be so far advanced in their faith. The feast of All Souls thus presents us with the opportunity to call to mind all those who have gone before us in faith. This includes the many people—including relatives and friends—who have led lives of holiness and deep commitment and who have served as an inspiration to others—people who may not be officially recognized by the church as saints, but yet who have had a deep impact on others through their Christian witness. Celebrating this feast reminds us that, in fact, we are all led to play this kind of a role in larger or smaller ways in our own lives.
One of the themes of the readings for today is to help us develop a proper attitude towards death. It is possible to fear death too little. Fear of death is a natural response to physical danger. Without fear of death we would take too many foolish risks. Furthermore, death sets a limit to our lifespan and thereby places limits on our lives. If we never consider our mortality then we fail to grow up, since we have not confronted our own limitations and finitude. As a consequence we may fail to confront the question of what gives meaning of our lives. Yet it is also possible to fear death too much. We fear it too much when we think that there is nothing beyond death, that the natural ending of our lives is the limit of our existence. This way of thinking has led many human beings at various times to seek happiness through the acquisition of wealth, power, and honor. Yet, this way of thinking distorts the real meaning of our lives, for we were not created to meet our own selfish desires but instead to live for the good of ourselves and other people.
The scripture readings for today point out that the proper attitude towards death is to see it as a stage in the process of our redemption. If we die in Christ we will be resurrected into new life with Christ (Romans 6: 3-9). Yet, this hope is due not to our own merits but rather it is because of God’s grace. Paul reminds us in the second reading that Jesus Christ is our only hope (Roman 5: 5-11). We were saved not because of our merits, for “while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5: 8). And Jesus reassures us that it is God’s will that those who remain faithful to him will be resurrected from the dead (John 6: 39).
If this is the case then how should we live? This is a question that each of us must answer in our own lives. But taking the time today to reflect on the witness of the faithful through the ages can perhaps help us to see what it means for us today.
- Joel Schickel