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Message from the desk of the Pastor:

THE COMMEMORATION OF ALL THE

FAITHFUL DEPARTED (ALL SOULS' DAY)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

Gospel Reading 

John 11:17-27

The readings for the Liturgy of the Word on the Feast of All Souls can be selected from among those given for the Masses for the Dead.

 This reflection is based on John 11:17-27: Jesus consoles Martha at the death of

her brother, Lazarus, and declares that he is the Resurrection and the life.

Background on the Gospel Reading

On the Feast of All Souls, we pray for the souls of all those who have died.            There are many choices of readings for this day, all focusing on our belief                    in the resurrection of the dead and Jesus' promise of eternal life. The Gospel        story of the raising of Lazarus offers us many important insights about this        aspect of our faith.

Jesus was good friends with Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary. Lazarus    had fallen ill, and Martha and Mary had sent word to Jesus. Jesus delays his journey to them, however, and when he arrives in Bethany, he finds that Lazarus is dead and has been buried for four days.

The scene described at Bethany is a sad one; Lazarus and his family have many friends who have come to mourn his death. Martha goes out to meet Jesus when    he arrives. She cries with him, saying that if Jesus had been there, Lazarus would    not have died. Yet she remains confident that God will do whatever Jesus asks. Jesus consoles her with the promise that Lazarus would rise from the dead.      Martha affirms her belief that there will be resurrection of the dead in the last        days. Jesus promises her even more; he says that he himself is the Resurrection  and  the life for all those who believe in him. Martha professes her faith in this, acknowledging that Jesus is Christ, the Son of God.

This is the profession of faith we continue to make, and it is the promise on which  we base our hope for eternal life for ourselves and for all those who have died. In    his death and Resurrection, Jesus has conquered death for all those who believe        in him.

We believe that we continue to share a relationship with those who have died.      When we pray for the souls of the faithful departed, we are praying for those      whose souls are journeying through purgatory, being prepared for eternal life in heaven. We believe that our prayers for them will help to speed their journey to  eternal life with God in heaven.

Family Connection

In Jesus' conversation with Martha, we learn that we can face death with hope because Jesus promises eternal life for all those who believe in him. In his death    and Resurrection, Jesus has conquered death once and for all. In the Communion    of the Saints, we continue to share a relationship with all those who have died. The saints in heaven intercede for us before God. We pray for the souls of the faithful departed. Our prayers for them help speed their journey to full communion with the saints in heaven. We praise God for this tremendous gift of our faith.

As you gather as a family, remember the names of family members or friends        who have died. Talk about these people, sharing memories of their lives and their influence on your family. Recall that today is All Souls Day. On this day we remember all those who have died, and we pray for them. Read today's Gospel, John 11:17-27,  in which we hear Jesus console his friend Martha after her brother's death. Talk about Jesus' promise of eternal life and our hope of eternal life for all those who  have died. Conclude by praying for all those who have died, naming in particular family members and friends. After each person is named, pray together “Lord,      have mercy.” Pray together the Act of Hope.