The souls of the just are in the hand of God
Today we celebrate a hope full of immortality. It is the hope with which Jesus himself fills us.
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.
It is hope based on God's love for us. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Our hope is strong because it is given to us not based on what we deserve or on what we earn, but based on the love of God.
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.
If he did all of that in spite of our sinful past do we suppose there is anything he won't do to bring us all the way home? The only thing he won't do is force us. He is the perfect gentleman. He asks us to walk in the newness of life, but it is an invitation.
If, then, we have died with Christ,
we believe that we shall also live with him.
Do we choose to share in the death of one for all? Do we choose to let it transform us? The souls of the faithful departed did choose to share in this death. Many of them are still being transformed. They are still experiencing the final throes of this death before their resurrection dawns. This is purgatory. This is the change, perhaps in the twinkling of an eye, to be made worthy of glory. This is the final bestowing of the holiness without which no one can see God (see Hebrews 12:14). When we pray for the deceased we have great cause for hope. They are a sign that God neither abandons us if we don't become holy on our own nor does he simply ignore the brokenness within us. The deceased show us that God will not give up on us if we do not give up on him. If we hold out to the end we will be saved.
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.
The LORD shepherds us through the dark valleys of life. He shepherds us through the final dark valley as well. He is the only one who can guide us safely through. Let us pray for the souls of those still on the way. We can experience great unity with them as we are transformed from one degree of glory to another. We can marvel at the hope we share.
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.
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