Reading 1
Wis 3:1-9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
they shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect.
Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
Responsorial PsalmR. (1)
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
or:
R. Though I walk in the valley of darkness, I fear no evil, for you are with me.
Reading 2
Rom 5:5-11 or Rom 6:3-9
Brothers and sisters:
Hope does not disappoint,
because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts
through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
For Christ, while we were still helpless,
died at the appointed time for the ungodly.
Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person,
though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die.
But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.
How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood,
will we be saved through him from the wrath.
Indeed, if, while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son,
how much more, once reconciled,
will we be saved by his life.
Not only that,
but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have now received reconciliation.
or
Brothers and sisters:
Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus
were baptized into his death?
We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death,
so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead
by the glory of the Father,
we too might live in newness of life.
For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his,
we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.
We know that our old self was crucified with him,
so that our sinful body might be done away with,
that we might no longer be in slavery to sin.
For a dead person has been absolved from sin.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more;
death no longer has power over him.
Gospel
Jn 6:37-40
Jesus said to the crowds:
“Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Meditation: Wisdom 3:1-9
All Souls
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. (Wisdom 3:1)
On this day of commemoration, God asks us to turn our attention to all those who have entered into everlasting life before us marked with the sign of faith. The feast of All Souls is a day to honor all those we knew and loved, and countless others—those whose Christian lives were exemplary and those whose faith is known to God alone. As unique a path as each of them has traveled, they all had one thing in common: They all faced affliction during their lives. After all, it’s the one thing that all humans share!
Understandably, most of us have a negative view of affliction. But today’s first reading offers us some perspective. It tells us that the foolish see death as the ultimate tragedy, while the wise understand that those who die are in God’s hands; their lives are just beginning.
We all know people whose hearts and hopes have been narrowed by suffering and the challenges of life. Perhaps they have become bitter and angry. Maybe they feel swallowed up by blame or regret. Some remain stuck in “if only,” unable to move forward because they see a future devoid of hope and separated from the merciful hand of God.
And yet, many are the believers who have let their suffering deepen their love for God and strengthen their trust in him. Putting aside anxiety and dejection, they have fixed their hearts on God’s love and his presence with them in every circumstance. They are full of gratitude for every goodness in their lives, and they readily reach beyond their own challenges to offer comfort to the people around them.
How will you respond when affliction enters your life? Or, more appropriately, how are you responding to the challenges you are facing right now? Don’t let them beat you down or shut you in on yourself! Instead, let them become opportunities to turn your heart more fully to the Lord who loves you and makes all things work for good for those who love him (Romans 8:28). Remember: No matter how confining your circumstances may seem, you are always free to love the Lord and to receive his love.
“Lord Jesus, you are my good shepherd. I trust that you are with me, even when I am in a dark valley.”
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