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Wednesday 2 November 2022

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (02 Nov. 2022)

Isa 25:6-9; Psalm 27:1, 4, 7-9, 13-14 (R.v.13); Rom 5:5-11; Mark 15:33-39; 16:1-6

"I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE" (John 11:25)

Our celebration of today beckons on us to reflect deeply on what death should really mean to us who are believers. One of the Prefaces that we use at funeral Masses says that for the faithful, at death, "Life is changed not ended." And we are sure that the change is for better since, as St Paul noted, Christ died for us even when we did not merit it (cf. Rom 5:8), how much more now that he already paid the price and cleared our debts.

The events that surrounded his death give us even more cause to be hopeful. With the tearing of the veil of the Temple (Mark 15:38), the old Temple that is built by human hands gave way to a spiritual temple, which introduces a new covenant. That veil symbolizes the veil which the prophet Isaiah had told us, in the First Reading, that the Lord would destroy.

This new covenant accepts and gives life to anyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (John 20:31). Hence, the centurion becomes the first member in that new covenant; the last became the first (cf. Mark 10:31).

Do you care for a further proof of the benefits of the death of Christ for us? He makes our passage into eternal life very easy. Mary Magdalene and her group were still wondering on how they would move the stone covering the tomb but Jesus had already made it easier for them to walk through (cf. Mark 16:3-4).

Compare their relief at seeing that the stone had already been rolled away to the disappointment of the disciples who rather went fishing when they caught nothing (John 21:2-3). It pays more to remain with Jesus and follow him faithfully.

Those who are able to follow him thus, he leads into the great banquet of fat things and choice wines in his place, where he will wipe away all tears and all would rejoice (Isa 25:6-9).

But we also know that there are those who would not follow faithfully as Mary Magdalene and would rather derail like the apostles that went back fishing. Since the Lord did not abandon these to get loss in hopelessness, we have hopes that our prayers can assist the souls who, out of human frailty, have not found their way into the banquet hall of the Lord.

May our hope, which is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness, not fail us. At the moment when the darkness of death would seem to hide his face from us, may his grace sustain us, and his light lead us in the right path. And may that light shine upon the souls of the faithful departed who are yet to see the face of God, that they may enter into eternal life. Amen.

Have a memorable celebration today and a great and fruitful day ahead. Peace be with you.

http://www.fadajbcezeonwumelu.com/i-am-the-resurrection-and-the-life-john-1125/

Why does physical appearance don't matter when we like someone?

We like people we connect well with. This likeness comes from a person's behaviour, attitude and personality and overshadow's a person's outer appearance.

Sometimes we meet people and get influenced by the way they look. Even though we may admire them, if we don't feel connected to that person, the admiration doesn't last. While some people make way to our hearts in such a way that we become so fond of them that we see nothing else except beauty in them.

Admire people for their appearance, but if you have to make any relationship, connect with the heart. These are the relationships that will always last.

Do you appreciate your own efforts?

Most of us rely much on other people's appreciation. As not many people notice or find worth in our efforts, we never feel we are doing well enough.

Whether it is your household or workplace, managing important aspects of everyday life takes effort. People around us don’t always acknowledge our efforts; some may even criticise us for not doing enough. You may feel hurt and unable to express how hard you try. This shouldn't stop you from giving yourself a pat.

Don't always rely on others for appreciation. If you know you have done your very best, appreciate yourself.

How do you stay hopeful when you feel you are in the dark phase of life?

The dark phase of life is the time when life challenges us to the core, and we feel as if it is an end to everything. As we think there is no way out, our hope begins to fall.

We all experience such a phase in our lives. We all have the strength to get through it; we just have to stay hopeful and firmly believe we will see the light.

Although it may seem never-ending, no situation in life lasts forever. Pray, meditate, speak to trustworthy people, and try to find what you can do to help yourself. Reassure yourself that, like always, the difficult time will end this time too.

How do you release yourself from self-guilt?

Living in self-guilt can be detrimental not only to your well-being but also to your personal growth.

Mistakes happen from anyone, but when things go wrong because of our mistakes, we may sometimes find it hard to forgive ourselves. We keep thinking about the situation in remorse and blaming ourselves that we could have done things differently, only to drag ourselves down.

To release yourself from self-blame and self-guilt, you need to accept that situation and admit that you cannot undo things. All you can do is learn and improve.

Be fully present in every moment of life. When your mind is elsewhere, you don't live that moment of life.

Life is a series of moments and experiences. We are only able to live our life to the fullest when we are fully present.

Most of us don't live our lives to the full extent. When we are with someone, we think of something else. When we are doing one thing, we are planning other things. This does nothing but tire our mind, and we feel exhausted all the time.

Keep your mind in one place. Enjoy the company of the person you are with, the place you are or the work you are doing. Thinking about everything else spoils the joy at that moment and makes you feel you have missed out on life.