Dear brothers and sisters, May the souls of all the departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Fr. Cielo

1. Sunday Readings
Commentary and Reflections
31st Sunday in Ordinary Time A
All Souls’ Day
2 November 2014
In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy
As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9
 1 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment
shall touch them. 2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to
be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction 3 and
their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.
4 For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope
full of immortality; 5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly
blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of
himself. 6 As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as
sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. 7 In the time of their
visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through
stubble; 8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and
the LORD shall be their King forever. 9 Those who trust in him
shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in
love: Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his
care is with the elect.
The focus is on the souls of the just.

3. 1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9
The souls of the just
A simple outline!
 1 The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch
them.
From the point of view of the foolish
 2 They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing
away was thought an affliction 3 and their going forth from us, utter
destruction.
From the point of view of wisdom
 But they are in peace. 4 For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is
their hope full of immortality; 5 Chastised a little, they shall be greatly
blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. 6 As
gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took
them to himself.
The souls of the just in the future
 7 In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as
sparks through stubble; 8 They shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the LORD shall be their King forever. 9 Those who trust in him shall
understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: Because
grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with the elect.

4. 1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9
The souls of the just
 1 The souls of the just are in the
hand of God, and no torment shall
touch them.
From the point of view of the
foolish
 2 They seemed, in the view of the
foolish, to be dead; and their
passing away was thought an
affliction 3 and their going forth
from us, utter destruction.
From the point of view of wisdom
 But they are in peace. 4 For if
before men, indeed, they be
punished, yet is their hope full of
immortality; 5 Chastised a little,
they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them and
found them worthy of himself. 6
As gold in the furnace, he proved
them, and as sacrificial offerings
he took them to himself.
Commentary
 V.1 indicates the state of the souls
of the just:
 In the hand of God
 Free from torment
 Vv.2-3 indicate the view of the
foolish on the souls of the just
 They are dead
 Their death is an affliction.
 Their death (going forth from us) is
destruction.
 V.3b follows up the point of view of
God in v.1. (They are in peace).
 Vv.4-6 try to explain the sufferings
of the souls of the just.
 Punished, but with hope of
immortality
 Chastised, but will be blessed
 Proved as gold in a furnace, as
sacrificial offerings, but will belong to
God.

5. 1st reading: Wisdom 3, 1-9
The souls of the just in the
future
 7 In the time of their
visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as
sparks through stubble; 8
They shall judge nations
and rule over peoples, and
the LORD shall be their
King forever. 9 Those who
trust in him shall
understand truth, and the
faithful shall abide with him
in love: Because grace and
mercy are with his holy
ones, and his care is with
the elect.
 Vv.7-9 indicate what
happens to the souls of the
just at the end (time of
visitation)
 They shall shine.
 They shall judge and rule over
peoples.
 The Lord will be their king.
 They shall understand truth
 They shall abide in love.
 Grace and mercy will be with
them.
 They will be in God’s care.

6. Reflections on the 1st reading
 The first reading challenges us to be just.
 To be just is to be on the side of God.
 If we are prayerful and God-fearing, it does
not mean we are free from sufferings.
 Let us not take offense when we suffer.
 This is the lot of righteous and just people.
 When we die, God will take us to himself.
 This is God’s promise to the just.
 If we want to enter heaven, we have to be
just.

7. Resp. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
3a beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
 3b He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff that give me courage.
 5 You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

8. Resp. Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6
 R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is
nothing I shall want.
 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
3a beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.
 3b He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff that give me
courage.
 5 You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil; my cup
overflows.
 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for
years to come.
Commentary
 The psalm is classified as trust
song.
 It acknowledges the provident
and responsible God.
 It enumerates his actions that
favor the psalmist:
 He gives me repose, v.2
 He leads me, v.3a
 He refreshes my soul, v.3a.
 He guides me, v.3b
 At my side, v.4
 You spread the table, v.5
 You anoint my head, v.5
 As a result, the psalmist is not in
want.

9. Reflections on the Psalm
 God is a provident God.
 He gives all our needs, material and spiritual.
 God cares for our total well-being.
 He is willing to give us a glimpse of heaven, here
on earth.
 Let us put ourselves into the hands of God and
all will be OK.
 Do you trust in God?
 Do you have doubts about his power and
goodness?

10. 2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11
 5 Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been
given to us. 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at
the appointed time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty
does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person
one might even find courage to die. 8 But God proves his love
for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. 9 How
much more then, since we are now justified by his blood, will we
be saved through him from the wrath. 10 Indeed, if, while we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of
his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by
his life. 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received
reconciliation.
The focus is on the death of Jesus.

11. 2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11
Love of God
A simple outline!
 5 Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been
poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been
given to us.
Christ’s death
 6 For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed
time for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a
just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find
courage to die.
God’s love
 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners
Christ died for us. 9 How much more then, since we are now
justified by his blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath.
10 Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will
we be saved by his life.
Reconciliation through Jesus
 11 Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus
Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

12. 2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11
Love of God
 5 Hope does not
disappoint, because the
love of God has been
poured out into our hearts
through the holy Spirit that
has been given to us.
Christ’s death
 6 For Christ, while we were
still helpless, yet died at the
appointed time for the
ungodly. 7 Indeed, only
with difficulty does one die
for a just person, though
perhaps for a good person
one might even find
courage to die.
Commentary
 V.5 talks about the power of
God’s love being poured
upon us. It gives us hope.
 V.6 states that Christ died
for the ungodly (sinners).
 V.7 states the difficulty of
dying for a just person, but
for a good person, one may
be willing to die.
 V.7 highlights the heroism
of Christ. He was willing to
die for us, though we were
sinners (not just, not good).

13. 2nd reading: Romans 5,5-11
God’s love
 8 But God proves his love for us
in that while we were still sinners
Christ died for us. 9 How much
more then, since we are now
justified by his blood, will we be
saved through him from the
wrath. 10 Indeed, if, while we
were enemies, we were
reconciled to God through the
death of his Son, how much
more, once reconciled, will we be
saved by his life.
Reconciliation through Jesus
 11 Not only that, but we also
boast of God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we
have now received
reconciliation.
 V.8 picks up the same idea of v.7
(Jesus’ dying for the sinner) but
with LOVE.
 Jesus dies for us because of
God’s love for us.
 V.9 assures us of our salvation
(free from wrath), all the more
because of the blood of Christ.
 V.10 adds one more strong
argument for us being saved.
 We are reconciled with God
(saved) because of his life
(resurrection).
 V.11 acknowledges that we are
reconciled with God through
Jesus Christ.

14. Reflections on the 2nd reading
 God has done wonderful things for us, sinners.
 Through the death and resurrection of Christ, we
become reconciled with God.
 Through the merits of Christ, we are saved.
 We must abandon a misconception that we can
work for our salvation.
 It is God who work for our salvation, through his
Son.
 Left to ourselves as sinners, we live far away from
God.
 Without Christ, we must fear death.

15. Gospel reading: John 6,37-40
 37 Jesus said to the crowds: Everything that the
Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject
anyone who comes to me, 38 because I came
down from heaven not to do my own will but the will
of the one who sent me. 39 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. 40 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."
The focus is on eternal life.

16. Gospel reading: John 6,37-40
 37 Jesus said to the crowds:
Everything that the Father
gives me will come to me, and
I will not reject anyone who
comes to me, 38 because I
came down from heaven not to
do my own will but the will of
the one who sent me. 39 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. 40 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."
Commentary
 V.37 tells us that Jesus is a
welcoming person.
 He accepts anyone who comes to
him and all that his Father sends
to him.
 In v.38, Jesus is capable of doing
it (accepting) because he comes
from heaven (he is empowered to
do it) and he is aware of his
mission (to do God’s will).
 V.39 explicitates the will of God:
to save everyone, to raise those
who believe.
 V.40 also gives another
perspective of God’s will:
everyone who sees and believes
the Son has eternal life and will
resurrect on the last day.

17. Reflections on the gospel reading
 The message of the gospel is clear.
 It is God’s will that we who believe in Christ
will have eternal life.
 To attain eternal life is not just our dream and
purpose in this life.
 It is itself God’s dream and purpose for us.
 If we believe in the words of Jesus, we
should not worry where to go when we die.
 God promises life.

18. Tying the 3 readings and Psalms
 The first reading says that God takes care the
souls of the just.
 The psalm affirms that gives us repose.
 The second reading says that eternal life is
gained through the efforts of Jesus Christ.
 The gospel reading assures all believers of
eternal life.
It is not the time to discuss whether there is such a place as purgatory or not.
We have to discuss what true faith can lead us to.

19. How to develop your homily / sharing
 We believe that after we die, our souls go
somewhere.
 While we believe that God gives us eternal
life, we are not sure whether we will enter
heaven when we die.
 There is something wrong with our theology.
 Maybe it is not theology at all.
 Let us be coached by the three readings.

20.  The first reading tells us that God saves the souls of
the just.
 Are we just? Do we practice justice in our lives?
 The just have drive for what is just and what is right.
 The just may be suffering now, because of their
pursuit of justice, but God has a special place for
them.
 Their death is not a curse, but a blessing for them.
 The souls of the just are the precious possessions
of God.

21.  The second reading assures us believers of eternal
life.
 If we believe in the grace of God, we should not fear
death.
 We should not worry where to go, because Christ
has died and resurrected for us, sinners.
 We have been reconciled with God.
 All we have to do is to acknowledge his power to
give life.
 If we are afraid to die, because we are not sure
where our souls are going, maybe we lack faith or
we don’t practice true religion at all.

22.  The gospel reading clearly and repeatedly states
that we believers are destined to live eternally with
God.
 It is the will of God that we enter heaven and share
in his life.
 It is not his will that we fall away from him.
 Now if we are worried and are never convinced that
we will go to heaven, then there is something wrong
with our belief system.
 It is not faith at all.
 We are sick psychologically and spiritually.
 We need to develop a true and healing faith.

23.  Today we pray for all the souls in purgatory,
especially the souls of our beloved dead.
 In the mass, we express our prayer and belief
that God may now allow them to enter
heaven, if, yet, they have not.
 Blessed are the souls who are remembered
by the living.
 When we are gone, may we too be
remembered by our loved ones.

24.  The mass is a perfect prayer for the souls in
purgatory.
 In the eucharist, Jesus assures us of eternal
life.
 If we worthily receive the eucharist, we are
assured of heaven.
 In the eucharist, heaven starts here and now.

25. Our Context of Sin and Death
 Fear of death
 Lack of faith
 Negligence in praying
for the dead
 Desecration (spoliation)
of tombs
 Disrespect for the dead
 No belief in the
resurrection
 Playing inappropriate
music in the cemetery
 Purgatory
 Heaven
 Hell
 Mass offerings for the
souls in purgatory
 Respect for the dead
 Families gathering
together to visit their
dead, in prayer

26. Suggested Songs
 Pilgrim Song
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emQ9iKWb9cQ
 My Light and My Salvation
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ekQdpjS4VA
 What more can I ask?
 And I will raise him up
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4CapSBM8UA