All Souls Day

[cappie]

When St. Paul talked about the resurrection of the dead with the philosophers at Athens, many laughed and mocked him (Acts 17:32).  He would later write, is “foolishness” to the wise of this world (1 Cor. 1:18). 

Yet this week’s First Reading tells us that it is foolish to think that the souls of the just are dead. Instead, theirs is a “hope full of immortality.” 
If we believe in Him, we will follow Him, as the Psalmist says: He will refresh our souls in the waters of Baptism, anoint our heads with the oil of Confirmation, and set before us the table of the Eucharist. 

There our cups will be filled to overflowing. And by these mysteries of His kindness and goodness, we will “dwell in the house of the Lord” in this life and in the life to come. 

An Elderly woman was a very active and faithful member of her parish for many years. Knowing that her days were few, she asked her pastor if they might talk about her funeral. The pastor came to her home and, over tea, they talked about the readings and music and other details of the liturgy. As the pastor was about to leave, the woman said, "I have one more request. And it's a little unusual." "And what's that, Martha?" the pastor asked. "When they bury me, I want my rosary in one hand and a fork in the other."  "I'm sorry?" the pastor stammered, caught by surprise. "You want to be buried with a fork?" "Yes. You see, lately I've been thinking about all the church dinners and banquets I've attended all through the years. I couldn't begin to count them all. But one thing sticks in my mind. At all of those wonderful suppers, when the meal was almost finished, a servant or hostess would come to the table to collect the dirty dishes. And at the best dinners they would say, `Keep your fork.' Of course, that meant that desert was coming. And not just a  pudding or even a dish of ice cream – you don't need a fork for that. It meant the good stuff – like chocolate cake or homemade apple pie.  When they said to keep my fork, I knew the best was yet to come. That's exactly what I want people to talk about at my funeral." "Oh, they can talk about all the good times we had together. But when they see me in my casket in my beautiful blue dress, I want them to turn to one another and say, Why the fork? And I want you to tell them that I kept my fork because the best is yet to come!"

The traditional Church teaching of the "communion of saints" tells us that there is oneness among the members of the Church in their different states. The Church Militant, - that's us, who are still on pilgrimage in this life; the Church Triumphant, - those in heaven enjoying the bliss of God's life; and the Suffering Church, those who are being purified to prepare them for the Church Triumphant. We believe that the Saints in the Triumphant Church pray and intercede for us who are struggling in our pilgrimage in this life, and we pray for the Suffering Church, the souls in purgatory.

The Solemnity of All Souls focuses on the souls in Purgatory. We know that most of us are not so good that we can go straight to heaven. And most of us are not so bad that we deserve to go to hell. Most of us are basically good and loving, but our love needs to be purified of all the imperfections, selfishness, and impurities to be ready for God, who is Pure Love. As a grade school catechism boy puts it. To those who are very, very good, God would say, "Come, and enjoy your happy reward in heaven." To the very bad people God would say, "You have been very, very bad. You go down below! "To those who are not very good, nor very bad, He says, "See you later!" 

Most people around the world, have a strong devotion for the dear departed. But because we know practically nothing about the next life, people tend to project the important things of this life to the next. Some people would burn what is valuable to send them to the deceased so that the deceased could continue to enjoy them. Some Chinese would burn paper painted with gold and silver as money for the dead. They offer food, paper houses and cars, sometimes including the driver to provide for the dead. 
We don't have a good idea of what the next life or eternal life is like. For those in hell we can only say that without God, there can be no love – And without love, there can only be hatred and isolation, only physical, psycho-emotional spiritual torments. Whatever torment we fear the most, we'll get it there – forever. For those in heaven and purgatory, Jesus assured us at the Last Supper, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and faith in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places; otherwise, how could I have told you that I was going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me, that where I am you also may be." (John 14:1-3). 

And St. Paul tells the Christian at Corinth and us, "Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it so much as dawned on man what God has prepared for those who love him." (1 Cor. 1-3) Some people tried to explain it this way. If you were to describe a modern mansion, with air conditioning ,with swimming pools, television and home theatre, to a medieval man, he will not make sense of what you're talking about. What you say is beyond his experience and imagination. If you were to describe a modern kitchen with its hot and cold water from the tap with freezer and microwave, and electric oven  similarly they  will not understand what you're talking about. It is beyond their experience and imagination. So it is with what God has prepared for us in the next life. It is beyond our experience and our wildest dream.

And so we have the marvellous readings this day that call us to reflect more profoundly on reality: the reality of hope, resurrection and eternal life. This is God’s answer to the pain and loss of death. This is why this feast is important. This is why our faith is so significant. This is why we can face death without despair.  Because in faith we trust in His words that it will be much better, and beyond our expectation. The best is yet to come.

[Archaeology cat]

Love it, Father.