Hope is a little like leaven that expands our souls. There are difficult moments in life, but with hope the soul goes forward and looks ahead to what awaits us. Today is a day of hope. Our brothers and sisters are in the presence of God and we shall also be there, through the pure grace of the Lord, if we walk along the way of Jesus. The Apostle John concludes: “every one who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure” (v. 3). Hope also purifies us, it lightens us; this purification in hope in Jesus Christ makes us go in haste, readily. Today before evening falls each one of us can think of the twilight of life: “What will my passing away be like?”. All of us will experience sundown, all of us! Do we look at it with hope? Do we look with that joy at being welcomed by the Lord? This is a Christian thought that gives us hope. Today is a day of joy; however it is serene and tranquil joy, a peaceful joy. Let us think about the passing away of so many of our brothers and sisters who have preceded us, let us think about the evening of our life, when it will come. And let us think about our hearts and ask ourselves: “Where is my heart anchored?”
- Homily for All Saints, November 1, 2013 Pope Francis
For many people, the feast of All Souls is a day of sadness. Naturally so, for anyone who has lost a loved one, there is sadness. It takes a conscious effort to see this feast as a celebration of joy. “Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended.” This also needs to be in our hearts and minds. Our loved ones are alive with God, taken from our sight, yet transformed in the glory of eternal life.
- Homily for All Saints, November 1, 2013 Pope Francis
For many people, the feast of All Souls is a day of sadness. Naturally so, for anyone who has lost a loved one, there is sadness. It takes a conscious effort to see this feast as a celebration of joy. “Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended.” This also needs to be in our hearts and minds. Our loved ones are alive with God, taken from our sight, yet transformed in the glory of eternal life.