All Saints & All Souls

I have just finished a novel, in which a boy of 11 yrs of age ran away from home because his Mother was dying. The boy didn’t want to be in the home when his Mother died. While having a rest, the boy met up with an old man who helped the boy to accept the reality. For me, the story brought two facts to my attention. One thing is, death happens for everybody and secondly is, do not waste time running away. The time needs to be used in being present.

I love choosing a bar of chocolate and looking forward to choosing a quite time and space to enjoy the chocolate itself. When the chocolate is eaten, there is satisfaction and happiness, yet there is the sadness of no longer having the chocolate. Allow me to continue and not get too simple an idea of the fact of sorrow experienced in death.

We can too easily wrap ourselves up in the things and people and events of life. So, when death happens for our beloved ones or for ourselves we might find we have been consumed by shallow living. There is a tendency to forget to sit down and talk about what death really is. Death simply expressed is The Letting Go! We let them go or, we let go. In the reading from Isaiah, we read that God destroys death for ever and we shall join in the banquet prepared for all peoples. (IS 25 v6-9)

Once we have discussed a little about death, we gradually relax our fearful grip on life and relax into the presence of Jesus Christ. Then we can read, hear feel the power of the Resurrected Christ and know the promise received by our Family and Friends and Community of ALL THE SAINTS. Yes, everyone can turn to the Lord and be saved.  “My dear people we are already the children of God and we shall see Him as he really is” (2nd JH 3 v3)

In the Beatitudes (MT 5 v1-12) we read on ALL SAINTS DAY, we are showered with advice and promises to help us let go of anything that pulls us away from Christ, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (MT 5 v12)

On All Saints Day we rejoice in the open community of all who have gone before us in the presence of Trinity God. On All Souls Day, we pray for all our beloved ones who have died and those who have no-one to pray for them. We continue to pray all through November.

Each day this week, I am going to stand near a tree and think about all people growing into the companionship of Jesus. I’m sure I’ll find time for some chocolate as well!

With love and prayers

Fr Michael