We all know that Jesus is King of Heaven and Earth. This is a truth we celebrate in November, on the last Sunday of Ordinary Time which is followed by the 1st Sunday of Advent.
Let’s go on a tangent to ponder on two other significant days in November, i.e. All Saints Day and All Souls Day. These two days are like two sides of a coin.
On all Saints Day we remember the saints who are in Heaven because they chose to follow Jesus – King of Heaven & Earth. They have the joy of seeing God face to face forever.
On All Souls Day, we remember our dear ones and all those who have gone ahead of us, who may be in Purgatory, suffering the pangs of having to wait and be purified to see God face to face.
Let us remember that we are all called to be saints. It sounds daunting. But, put very simply it is a choice we need to make; to never choose sin over holiness. When we ask Jesus for this grace, He sends His very Power- His Holy Spirit – to help us in our need. It is very consoling to read the words of Jesus in Jn. 14: 2-3 – “In my Father’s house there are many rooms, otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to Me, so that where I am you also maybe”.
Think about this. Since Jesus has promised (and He is true to His promises), to prepare a place for each of us, should we not start preparing ourselves from now to enter that place? Can we go on living a life with a ‘don’t care’ attitude and then expect to walk into this place prepared for us, expecting Sainthood that easily? The only other option is Purgatory. Friends, let our TODAY be a preparation to enter the place Jesus prepares for us and will even come to take us, so that where He is we also maybe.
On All Souls Day and even the days before, our thoughts go first to the deceased members of our family, then of course our friends, neighbours and persons in our life who have left an imprint on our souls. Our hearts and minds lift up in prayer for them. There is a rush to offer Masses for these souls, to visit the cemetery, decorate the graves (and sometimes even cook their favourite dishes). We pray that their suffering may end and that they may soon enter the place of rest Jesus has prepared for them and have the joy of seeing God face to face for all eternity.
Let us turn the attention to ourselves. Can we believe about ourselves – with confidence – that the sojourn (this stay for a time) in Purgatory, will never be our lot? If no, then let us live each day as a preparation to enter the place Jesus prepares for us, so that we may never need the ‘stop-over’ in Purgatory.
What is going to be our CHOICE? To live our life as a preparation for Sainthood in Heaven, or to suffer the pangs of Purgatory? Remember that in Purgatory we will be dependent on those we have left behind, to pray for us, which could quite likely be only on 2nd November.
In Jn. 17:24 Jesus prayed for us “Father, since You have given them to me, I want them to be with me where I am, and to see the glory you gave me, for You loved me before the foundation of the world”. This is a fervent prayer Jesus made for each of us before He entered His Passion and Death on the Cross.
As Jesus loves us and is so concerned about our salvation let us give top priority to make the choice of being with Jesus, KING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, for ever and ever. The pandemic has brought us to a cross-road, where we need to make the choice TODAY!
Josephine Rodrigues