Celebrating holiness and praying for the dead

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

IT’S good that in our country we have this very popular tradition called “undas” when families go to cemeteries to visit, clean and decorate graves of loved ones. There they offer prayers, light candles and leave flowers and even food for the departed. It’s also a time for families to come together.

Though liturgically, the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed is on November 2, the “undas” also covers the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1. This may not be theologically or liturgically correct, but everyone understands that both celebrations are very related to each other.

The Solemnity of All Saints is not only an occasion to celebrate the success stories of holiness of those who are already in heaven, and are recognized and canonized by the Church as saints. It is also a strong reminder that all of us are called to holiness. And the way to holiness is clearly spelled out by Christ himself when he preached about the beatitudes. (cfr. Mt 5,1-12)

Everyone can be a saint because God calls all and empowers all to be so. Ever wondered why Christ chose his apostles practically randomly? He, for example, would just pass by Matthew in his tax collector’s table and say, “Come, follow me,” without as much checking on Matthew’s background.

Same with brothers Peter and Andrew, and James and John. Christ would just call them, and without asking any question they simply left their nets, for they were fishermen, and followed Christ.

In the end, he would also call Judas Iscariot who would later betray him. Christ, being God, would have known that Judas would turn him in. But that did not deter him. He called Judas just the same to be one of his 12 apostles.

The only reason I can find for this behavior of Christ is that he has the right to call anyone and everyone to follow him. And that’s simply because, as God, he has that right since all of us come from him and belong to him. As redeemer, he calls everyone to follow him.

The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed reminds us of these very reassuring words of Christ: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.” (Jn 6,37-38)

He further said to clarify things even more: “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (Jn 6,39-40)

I believe it is most worthwhile to meditate on these words often to convince ourselves that we should never be afraid of death because as long as we believe in Christ, we are assured of eternal life, of achieving the ultimate and definitive dignity of ours as God’s image and likeness, children of his, sharers of his divine life and nature.

If our faith is strong in these words of Christ, we know that death is actually a most welcome event because it represents our salvation, our liberation from exile and alienation from God. Death would mean that we have successfully passed the test God has given us in this earthly life of ours.

All Souls’ Day also reminds us that death does not separate us from those who have gone ahead. We still are in communion with the dead!

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com