First reading 2 Maccabees 12:42-45
Sacrifice for the dead
Judas took a collection from them individually, amounting to nearly two thousand drachmae, and sent it to Jerusalem to have a sacrifice for sin offered, an altogether fine and noble action, in which he took full account of the resurrection. For if he had not expected the fallen to rise again it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout. This was why he had this atonement sacrifice offered for the dead, so that they might be released from their sin.
Responsorial Psalm 62(63):2-6,8-9
The Lord is my light and my help.
The Lord is my light and my help;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
before whom shall I shrink?
There is one thing I ask of the Lord,
for this I long,
to live in the house of the Lord,
all the days of my life,
to savour the sweetness of the Lord,
to behold his temple.
O Lord, hear my voice when I call;
have mercy and answer.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face.
I am sure I shall see the Lord’s goodness
in the land of the living.
Hope in him, hold firm and take heart.
Hope in the Lord!
Second reading Philippians 3:20-21
Christ will transfigure our bodies into copies of his glorious body
For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he will transfigure these wretched bodies of ours into copies of his glorious body. He will do that by the same power with which he can subdue the whole universe.
Gospel Luke 7:11-17
The only son of his mother, and she a widow
Jesus went to a town called Nain, accompanied by his disciples and a great number of people. When he was near the gate of the town it happened that a dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a considerable number of the townspeople were with her. When the Lord saw her he felt sorry for her. ‘Do not cry’ he said. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.’ And this opinion of him spread throughout Judaea and all over the countryside.
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Death
As we mark All Souls’ Day today, we take a moment to remember our beloved family and friends who have departed from this world. We express our heartfelt gratitude for the ways they enriched our lives, knowing that they now live on in the embrace of God. This day encourages us to reflect deeply on the fleeting nature of our lives. Indeed, the time we have on this earth is precious and limited, reminding us of a profound truth: one day, we too will leave this life behind. Every day offers us the opportunity to truly appreciate life and cherish the moments we have by embracing God’s love and sharing it with others.
In today’s gospel, Jesus encounters a widow at Nain who is preparing to bury her deceased son. Moved by her deep sorrow, Jesus says to her, “Don’t cry.” He then touches the coffin and tells the dead man, “Young man, I tell you: get up.” He restores the young man to life and returns him to his mother. For those of us grieving the loss of a loved one, Jesus assures us that we are not alone in our pain. He seeks us in our sorrows. Let us find comfort in Jesus and hold onto the hope of one day being reunited with our loved ones in the presence of God’s eternal love.
Reflective Question:
How does the reality of death challenge me to live my life for what truly matters?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
