Category Archives: All Souls Day

At some point of our lives, we would have lost someone to death. We would have experienced the pain of losing a loved one, a grandparent, a parent, a sibling or even a close relation. Some of us may feel as if we would never see the person again, and some may feel quite sad, down or even helpless. Some may have wondered whether they had done something or said something hurtful, which could have somehow affected the other person and increased the possibility of death. But the fact is, we all will die one day, as our being here on earth is only temporary.

Some of us may become quite worried and wondered what is going to happen to us and to our loved ones when we die. Some of us become filled with anxiety, wondering if we would face eternal life or eternal damnation. But as St. Paul reminds us in the second reading: “Having died to make us a righteous, is it likely that He (Jesus) would now fail to save us from God’s anger?” If we have faith and trust in Jesus, if we have done our best to follow God’s commandments, then there should be no need for us to worry or fear, since Jesus would be our help and guide. We must remember that our loved ones are now in the hands of God and in His infinite mercy. We believe that God can care for them far better than we can ever achieve.

Isaiah in the first reading further reassures us: “On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines, of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines. On this mountain he will remove the mourning veil covering all peoples, and the shroud enwrapping all nations, he will destroy Death for ever.” May we be consistent and humble in our efforts to grow in relationship with God, knowing that death is not the end, but a hopeful new beginning with the Lord.

Do you know what happens to you when you die? Do you know what will happen to your body? What about your soul? We know that our bodies will decay over time, unless it is for the glory of God that our body remains uncorrupted, like what has happened to the bodies of certain saints. But for most of us, our bodies “were made from dust, and to dust we will return (Gen 3:19).” But what about our soul? Have we considered what would happen to our soul?

Death is inevitable. We can try ways and means to prolong our lives, but eventually and inevitably, we will die. Some of us may begin to worry about what would happen to us and our loved ones when we die. We wonder whether we would be with God in heaven, or whether we might be condemned to hell. We wonder whether we may end up in purgatory for a while. But all these unnecessary questions are based on unnecessary anxiety. Why do we allow ourselves to be occupied or crippled with anxiety? After all, we should note what St Paul in the second reading reminds us: “Hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us… but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners. Having died to make us righteous, is it likely that he would now fail to save us from God’s anger?” 

We must remember that our loved ones are now in the hands of God. We believe that God will care for them. Therefore we should place our trust and our hope in the promise of God. Instead of worrying or fretting, let us do our part and try to live lives according to the values of the Gospel, and leave our lives and the lives of those who have gone before us in God’s care.

In life, there are many things we can try to avoid. Some of us would go through great effort trying to avoid illnesses. We buy vitamins, healthy and wholesome food, regular medical checkup, etc. as part of our effort to stay healthy. Some of us try to avoid conflict and arguments in our family and relationship. Others try to avoid situations which could be dangerous or fatal.

However, we know that there are things which we cannot avoid. The first is taxes, which we pay in one form or another. Whether it is income tax, road tax, GST, Assessment Tax or Quit Rent (Cukai Pintu), we are taxed and taxed.

Another thing which we cannot avoid is death. All of us will die some day. Nobody lives forever. We can try to find ways and means to prolong our lives, but we will eventually die. Our bodies are corruptible. Even the things which we invent and use here on earth are corruptible. But there is something which lives on even after our bodies are dead and gone. That something is our souls.

Today we celebrate All Souls Day. We remember the many people (family, friends, acquaintances, loved ones, etc.) who have gone before us. We have hope that these people, through the love and mercy of God, would be with God. The 2nd reading reminds us that we are filled with joyful hope and trust in God. Thus, let us then rejoice today, knowing that Christ has won the victory for us. Death can no longer conquer us because death is already conquered by Christ. Let us not be saddened over the death of our loved ones. Instead, let us rejoice with them for they have finally come to their rest with God.