The God of the Living
November 25th Readings Reflection: Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
Today’s Gospel contains a beautiful message of hope in the midst of death. Jesus told His disciples that the souls in Heaven “are like angels and…are the children of God.” In the Old Testament, we hear God referred to as “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” At the time of the Old Testament’s being written, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had already died. God is not the God of the dead but of the living, for He is eternal and “to [H]im all are alive.”
On All Souls’ Day and at other Requiem Masses offered for the repose of a departed soul, the priest traditionally wears black vestments. These vestments are often very beautiful, but the black colour reminds us of the darkness of death and the need to pray for the souls of the departed. Many souls die in the state of grace but nonetheless still possess the stain of venial sin and/or some attachment to sin. These souls are not yet ready to enter the Beatific Vision in Heaven, because, as St. Paul wrote, holiness is necessary in order to “see God” (Heb 12:14 DRB). These souls must first be purified like “gold in a furnace” (Wis 3:6) before they can enter their eternal home. Theirs is a joyful suffering, because they know that they will see God once their time of purification is over. Our prayers can hasten their purification, and for this reason, the Church encourages us to offer Masses, prayers, indulgences, and sacrifices on their behalf.
To God, all souls are alive, for our lives do not end at our deaths. Our souls are immortal and will live for all eternity. The Church Triumphant, the souls of the just who are in Heaven, are like angels in their holiness. They have undergone a period of purification, either on earth or in Purgatory, and are now spotless “white in the blood of the Lamb” (Apoc 7:14). Like the angels, the blessed souls in Heaven pray on our behalf to God, in Whose glorious presence they reside. This is why the Catholic Church encourages us to seek the intercession of the saints in Heaven.
Until a person has been canonized, we can never know for certain whether he is in Heaven. As a family whom I know eloquently worded it, we hope that the souls of our loved ones are in Heaven and pray as though they are in Purgatory. Our prayers for the souls in Purgatory are never wasted; if a particular soul is no longer in Purgatory, Our Lady will apply the merits of our prayers to another soul in Purgatory. Although the Month of the Holy Souls is drawing to a close, may we never forget to pray for the repose of the departed souls, both those in our families and those who are forgotten by all on earth. Through our prayers, may the God of the living quickly bring these souls into the Beatific Vision, where they will join the angels and reside in His presence for all eternity.
Our Lord promised Saint Gertrude the Great that He would release 1,000 souls from purgatory each time this prayer is recited:
“Eternal Father, I offer You the Most Precious Blood of Your Divine Son Jesus, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the Holy Souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal Church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.”
Beautiful reflection on today’s Gospel ✨🙏✨