Date: Sunday, November 02, 2014
Bishop Malone has asked us to participate in a national and diocesan program entitled: “Catholics Come Home.” There will be spots or ads on television, radio and social media during Advent inviting Catholics to come to Mass at Christmas. We know the best invitation is always personal and our warm welcome is essential. “Come Home” is an apt phrase this weekend as we commemorate the faithful departed and pray for their homecoming with God. The author of the Book of Wisdom tells us the souls of the just are in the hand of God, no torment shall touch them, chastised a bit they will be greatly blessed. These words seem to express our faith in being purified of sin and selfishness as we journey in death to God who is the source of all light and love. St. Paul writes to the Church at Rome to assure them that their hope will not disappoint. While they were still sinners, Jesus died for them with the gift of God’s salvation. Jesus, in the Gospel according to John, speaks to the crowd of the will of God that no one should be lost, that those who see the Son and believe in him shall have eternal life and be raised on the last day. It is our hope and faith that when we die we will enjoy the fullness of God’s love and mercy in heaven. It is a beautiful custom to pray for the deceased and to commend them to God. May they have a warm homecoming.