Sunday ReadingsCommentary and Reflections

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time A

All Souls’ Day

2 November 2014

In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy

As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing

Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9 1 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment

shall touch them. 2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction 3 and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. 4 For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; 5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. 6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. 7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; 8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. 9 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 the elect.

The focus is on the souls of the just.

1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9The souls of the just 1 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch

them. From the point of view of the foolish 2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing

away was thought an affliction 3 and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

From the point of view of wisdom But they are in peace. 4 For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is

their hope full of immortality; 5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. 6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

The souls of the just in the future 7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as

sparks through stubble; 8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. 9 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 the elect.

A simple outline!

1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9The souls of the just 1 The souls of the just are in the

hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.

From the point of view of the foolish

2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction 3 and their going forth from us, utter destruction.

From the point of view of wisdom But they are in peace. 4 For if

before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; 5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. 6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.

Commentary V.1 indicates the state of the souls

of the just: In the hand of God Free from torment

Vv.2-3 indicate the view of the foolish on the souls of the just They are dead Their death is an affliction. Their death (going forth from us) is

destruction. V.3b follows up the point of view of

God in v.1. (They are in peace). Vv.4-6 try to explain the sufferings of

the souls of the just. Punished, but with hope of

immortality Chastised, but will be blessed Proved as gold in a furnace, as

sacrificial offerings, but will belong to God.

1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9

The souls of the just in the future

7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; 8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the LORD shall be their King forever. 9 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 the elect.

Vv.7-9 indicate what happens to the souls of the just at the end (time of visitation) They shall shine. They shall judge and rule over

peoples. The Lord will be their king. They shall understand truth They shall abide in love. Grace and mercy will be with

them. They will be in God’s care.

Reflections on the 1st reading The first reading challenges us to be just. To be just is to be on the side of God. If we are prayerful and God-fearing, it does

not mean we are free from sufferings. Let us not take offense when we suffer. This is the lot of righteous and just people. When we die, God will take us to himself. This is God’s promise to the just. If we want to enter heaven, we have to be

just.

Resp. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;3a beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.

3b He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sidewith your rod and your staff that give me courage.

5 You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Resp. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;3a beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.

3b He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk in the dark valleyI fear no evil; for you are at my sidewith your rod and your staff that give me courage.

5 You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6 Only goodness and kindness follow meall the days of my life;and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

Commentary The psalm is classified as trust

song. It acknowledges the provident

and responsible God. It enumerates his actions that

favor the psalmist: He gives me repose, v.2 He leads me, v.3a He refreshes my soul, v.3a. He guides me, v.3b At my side, v.4 You spread the table, v.5 You anoint my head, v.5

As a result, the psalmist is not in want.

Reflections on the Psalm God is a provident God. He gives all our needs, material and spiritual. God cares for our total well-being. He is willing to give us a glimpse of heaven, here

on earth. Let us put ourselves into the hands of God and

all will be OK. Do you trust in God? Do you have doubts about his power and

goodness?

2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11

5 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. 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. 10 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. 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

The focus is on the death of Jesus.

2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11Love of God 5 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.

Christ’s death 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed

time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.

God’s love 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners

Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. 10 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.

Reconciliation through Jesus 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus

Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

A simple outline!

2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11

Love of God 5 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.

Christ’s death 6 For Christ, while we were

still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.

Commentary V.5 talks about the power of

God’s love being poured upon us. It gives us hope.

V.6 states that Christ died for the ungodly (sinners).

V.7 states the difficulty of dying for a just person, but for a good person, one may be willing to die.

V.7 highlights the heroism of Christ. He was willing to die for us, though we were sinners (not just, not good).

2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11

God’s love 8 But God proves his love for us

in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. 10 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.

Reconciliation through Jesus 11 Not only that, but we also

boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

V.8 picks up the same idea of v.7 (Jesus’ dying for the sinner) but with LOVE.

Jesus dies for us because of God’s love for us.

V.9 assures us of our salvation (free from wrath), all the more because of the blood of Christ.

V.10 adds one more strong argument for us being saved.

We are reconciled with God (saved) because of his life (resurrection).

V.11 acknowledges that we are reconciled with God through Jesus Christ.

Reflections on the 2nd reading God has done wonderful things for us, sinners. Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we

become reconciled with God. Through the merits of Christ, we are saved. We must abandon a misconception that we can

work for our salvation. It is God who work for our salvation, through his

Son. Left to ourselves as sinners, we live far away from

God. Without Christ, we must fear death.

Gospel reading: John 6,37-40

37 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, 38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 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. 40 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."

The focus is on eternal life.

Gospel reading: John 6,37-40 37 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, 38 because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. 39 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. 40 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."

Commentary V.37 tells us that Jesus is a

welcoming person. He accepts anyone who comes to

him and all that his Father sends to him.

In v.38, Jesus is capable of doing it (accepting) because he comes from heaven (he is empowered to do it) and he is aware of his mission (to do God’s will).

V.39 explicitates the will of God: to save everyone, to raise those who believe.

V.40 also gives another perspective of God’s will: everyone who sees and believes the Son has eternal life and will resurrect on the last day.

Reflections on the gospel reading The message of the gospel is clear. It is God’s will that we who believe in Christ

will have eternal life. To attain eternal life is not just our dream and

purpose in this life. It is itself God’s dream and purpose for us. If we believe in the words of Jesus, we

should not worry where to go when we die. God promises life.

Tying the 3 readings and Psalms The first reading says that God takes care the

souls of the just. The psalm affirms that gives us repose. The second reading says that eternal life is

gained through the efforts of Jesus Christ. The gospel reading assures all believers of

eternal life.

It is not the time to discuss whether there is such a place as purgatory or not. We have to discuss what true faith can lead us to.

How to develop your homily / sharing We believe that after we die, our souls go

somewhere. While we believe that God gives us eternal

life, we are not sure whether we will enter heaven when we die.

There is something wrong with our theology. Maybe it is not theology at all. Let us be coached by the three readings.

The first reading tells us that God saves the souls of the just.

Are we just? Do we practice justice in our lives? The just have drive for what is just and what is right. The just may be suffering now, because of their

pursuit of justice, but God has a special place for them.

Their death is not a curse, but a blessing for them. The souls of the just are the precious possessions

of God.

The second reading assures us believers of eternal life.

If we believe in the grace of God, we should not fear death.

We should not worry where to go, because Christ has died and resurrected for us, sinners.

We have been reconciled with God. All we have to do is to acknowledge his power to

give life. If we are afraid to die, because we are not sure

where our souls are going, maybe we lack faith or we don’t practice true religion at all.

The gospel reading clearly and repeatedly states that we believers are destined to live eternally with God.

It is the will of God that we enter heaven and share in his life.

It is not his will that we fall away from him. Now if we are worried and are never convinced that

we will go to heaven, then there is something wrong with our belief system.

It is not faith at all. We are sick psychologically and spiritually. We need to develop a true and healing faith.

Today we pray for all the souls in purgatory, especially the souls of our beloved dead.

In the mass, we express our prayer and belief that God may now allow them to enter heaven, if, yet, they have not.

Blessed are the souls who are remembered by the living.

When we are gone, may we too be remembered by our loved ones.

The mass is a perfect prayer for the souls in purgatory.

In the eucharist, Jesus assures us of eternal life.

If we worthily receive the eucharist, we are assured of heaven.

In the eucharist, heaven starts here and now.

Our Context of Sin and Death

Fear of death Lack of faith Negligence in praying for the dead Desecration (spoliation) of tombs Disrespect for the dead No belief in the resurrection Playing inappropriate music in the cemetery

Purgatory Heaven Hell Mass offerings for the souls in purgatory Respect for the dead Families gathering together to visit their dead, in

prayer

Suggested Songs

Pilgrim Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emQ9iKWb9cQ

My Light and My Salvation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekQdpjS4VA

What more can I ask?

And I will raise him up https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CapSBM8UA