Death touches every one of our lives. Be we youngsters trying to understand the fact that someone we thought would be part of our lives forever is no longer there, or those of us growing older everyday and recognizing more and more our own human frailty and mortality. It is difficult at any stage to embrace death as a part of life, and even more difficult to see it for what it is, a beginning rather than an end. This is indeed the perspective from which we as Christians are to see death. Loved ones who have died have not been taken away from us forever, but have passed from this life to a life that will never end. Their existence has not ceased, even if their presence is sorely missed, but rather they are transported from this fragile human existence to one of perfection and light. Our mourning their passing away from us is more about us who do not yet understand than it is about them who now see clearly the things of God. It is our hope as Christians that we will be like Christ, in word and deed here in this life as we strive to imitate him and as ones resurrected to unending life as he himself has already given us witness. We know through Christ that life continues for those who believe since he himself has come back from the dead. His death brought life to us and his resurrection a reason to rejoice. November has been set aside by the Church throughout the world to recall and celebrate the place of death in the life of every Christian. The Feasts of All Saints and All Souls celebrated this weekend stand before us as beacons of light in the midst of darkening days. As the weather changes and leaves fall from the trees, it is good to have a place to find warmth and reminders of better days ahead. In All Saints we honor those who "made it", transforming their lives in visible ways to become holy and spirit filled. The saints are our models, ordinary people like you and me who accomplish extraordinary things through their complete reliance on the will and promise of God. In All Souls we pray for those who are still on their way to that place of perfection, those who we believe are still making their way over the waters of death to the Kingdom that lasts forever. Throughout this month we will be praying for all who have died. We acknowledge our belief that our prayers have an effect in bringing about the Kingdom and that without them the way is harder indeed. Our prayers do not twist the arm of God to allow an unworthy soul to be found in his presence. Rather, our prayers bring to perfection what was lacking in the readiness of the dead person to enter into the presence of God right now! Like the journey that is our life in this world, death too is a journey of sorts in our Catholic Christian theology. The soul that is not quite ready for Heaven still has the opportunity to be made so and depends on the living faithful to move it forward. Our prayers for the dead are not merely to remember them but to assist them in achieving the fullness of eternal life. Through our prayers offered in tandem with the redeeming sacrifice of Christ himself, the last vestiges of sin are removed from a soul and grace is restored for eternity. Death gives way to Life. May we remember the dead then and pray for their repose. Restored in hope, may our prayers help to bring life to all who have died.

© 2008 Peter J. Andrews