Sunday Reflections

The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seem to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. 
(Wisdom 3: 1-3)

Although I have heard this passage many times, at many funerals and prayer services over the years, it is still one of the most comforting and powerful passages in Scripture for me.  It feels like a gentle, bracing hug from God.  In times of loss, even those with faith will have moments of foolishness and succumb to the despair that grief can bring.  Wisdom reminds us that our loved ones are now living a better, new life, one free from suffering and full of that elusive quality which we never quite seem to find on Earth, peace.  I love to picture my deceased loved ones in the hand of God, encircled by the same embrace of unconditional love that this passage evokes for myself. 

And notice that the passage says “the souls of the righteous”, not “the souls of the Catholics” or even “the souls of the baptized”.  There are righteous people everywhere, in every country, in every religion, in every situation in life.  Most often we humans cannot tell whether a person is righteous or not.  Which is why we are called to treat each person with respect and dignity, recognizing in them the spark of God’s creative love.  For the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God.

As we Commemorate All the Faithful Departed today, we thank God for his transforming love, which welcomes all the righteous into the eternal Kingdom. We pray that our loved ones are found to be righteous, and are experiencing the peace promised to them.  We ask our deceased loved ones to pray for us, that we may be open to God’s love in our lives, and be enthusiastic in sharing that love with everyone we meet.  One day, may we join the souls of the righteous in heaven.

Eternal rest grant unto our loved ones, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Amen.