Homily – Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day)

Just before a parish committee meeting the other evening, one member shared that he and his entire family would go together to the cemetery this year to visit the tombs of their relatives. Afterwards, they planned to go out for lunch together. Another member, upon hearing this, commented that it was a lovely thing to do, every now and then, especially when the celebration of All Souls’ Day happens to fall on a Sunday.

It is indeed a beautiful and rich tradition of our Catholic faith to dedicate not just one day, but the whole month of November to commemorate, pray for, and honour our loved ones who have gone before us. It is even more meaningful to honour this tradition as a community. Across our churches, Remembrance Books will be displayed for all parishioners to write down the names of deceased family members, so that the whole parish community can pray together and especially offer Masses for them.

In the Liturgy of the Word for the Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed – All Souls’ Day – the Church provides many options for Scripture readings – not only for the First and Second Readings, but also for the Gospel. As far as I can count, there are at least twelve possible Gospel passages to choose from. This year, we have chosen the Gospel passage from Luke, chapter 7. It tells the story of Jesus, his disciples, and a crowd of followers who encounter the funeral of a young man whose mother is a widow. The following reflections are on this Gospel as we commemorate All Souls’ Day.

The first reflection is that every person deals with the reality of death differently. I often share with families preparing for the funerals of their loved ones, that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Each person grieves in their own way. Though the level or extent of grief may differ, no one can escape, at one point or another in life, the reality of death – whether it be that of a family member, relative, friend, or colleague.

The situation of the mother in the Gospel is no different. Her situation is quite difficult. She lost her only son and had also lost her husband. Her circumstances, in a sense, were extreme in that particular society, where without a husband or son – on whom she depended completely – she would lose her social status and support. However, there is a detail in the story that sparks a sense of hope and reveals the beauty of human compassion in difficult times: “A considerable number of the townspeople were with her” (Luke 7:12). The awareness of her community and their decision to accompany her in her grief are, in a way, remarkable. This presence could certainly bring much healing and comfort.

We cannot escape the reality of facing the deaths of loved ones and experiencing the full range of emotions that come with it. Yet, the presence of others during those moments can mean a lot to us and can restore hope. The month of November gives us an opportunity to do this together – to be close to one another in sharing, praying, and commemorating our loved ones as a community of faith.

The second point concerns our Christian faith: the hope in the Resurrection of Jesus. Without the Resurrection, all our Eucharistic celebrations for the dead would make no sense. The Gospel tells us that when Jesus encountered the funeral, he was moved with compassion for the mother: “He felt sorry for her” (Luke 7:13) and gave her son back to her. God himself understands and has compassion in the pains of humanity. From a human perspective, especially in our moments of deep sorrow, we might wish to have our loved ones back just as she did. However, the Gospel’s message is not meant to be taken literally. It is a message of divine hope: that in God’s hands our loved ones – and we ourselves – can have life, and have it to the full. Death does not have the final word; rather, the life and Resurrection of Jesus proclaim the ultimate victory.

The month of November once again invites us to renew our faith and hope in this truth that Jesus has revealed. So that when we grieve together, we do not grieve in despair – but rather, we grieve in hope.

By Fr Sang Ho