My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is 'Undas,' our sacred time to return to the graves of our beloved dead. We clean, we ...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is 'Undas,' our sacred time to return to the graves of our beloved dead. We clean, we offer flowers and food, we light candles—a vibrant, faithful tradition that shows the Filipino heart never forgets. Yet, as we gather, perhaps with heavy hearts from loss, or with deep concern for the trials our nation faces—the struggle against poverty, the wounds of political division, the cries for justice—we must ask: What does our faith say to the finality of death and the uncertainty of life?
Our readings today speak not of simple memory, but of a profound spiritual reality that must change the way we live and mourn. They speak of Confidence, Communion, and Certainty.
Confidence. The Book of Wisdom tells us that the souls of the just are 'in the hand of God.' Not lost, not annihilated, but held. How do we face the 'darkest valley' of loss, or the dark valleys of fear and injustice in our society? We face them with the Confidence of the Good Shepherd. As Psalm 23 assures us, 'Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.'
My challenge to you is this: Are you more confident in the stability of your earthly assets, or in the steadfast hand of God holding your departed loved ones? Let the reality of the souls in God's hand give you a divine confidence that transcends every earthly trouble.
Communion. St. Paul reminds us in Romans that 'God’s love has been poured out into our hearts.' This is the foundation of the Communion of Saints—a single family of God that death cannot break. When we visit the puntod (grave) today, we are not just remembering; we are experiencing a communion, a spiritual union in Christ.
In the Philippines, family is everything. We feel deeply the loss of our mga mahal sa buhay. But what about our wider family, our nation? When we see the suffering, the victims of violence, the forgotten poor—are we living the love poured out in our hearts? Our love for the departed compels us to act justly for the living, because we are all bound together in the great Communion of God's love.
I challenge you: Do you live as if you truly belong to this great family of God, where every person, living or departed, is a beloved brother or sister? Your love for the dead must fuel your compassion for the living.
Certainty. Finally, Jesus gives us the Certainty we need in the Gospel of John: 'I will raise them up on the last day.' This is not a 'maybe' or a 'hope-so'; it is the definite will of the Father that all who believe in the Son shall have eternal life.
This Certainty is the anchor for our faith. It means death is not a period; it is a comma. It means every life, no matter how short or how long, has eternal value. It means all the faithful departed—your parents, your grandparents, the victims of injustice, the unknown dead—are awaiting the glorious day of resurrection.
I challenge you: If you truly believe in the Certainty of the resurrection, why do you still hold onto fear and despair? Our belief in the afterlife is not a form of escapism; it is a revolutionary hope! It challenges us to live now with the courage and peace of people who know the final outcome—that death has been conquered and life has won!
On this All Souls’ Day, let us pray for our departed with a heart full of Confidence in God's care, strengthened by our Communion with all the saints, and anchored by the Certainty of Christ’s promise. May this blessed hope transform our grief into a powerful force for a just and loving life. Amen."
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