The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

Today's Mass Readings

 

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes” (Benjamin Franklin).

Each generation, each individual, discovers death anew. A youth generally does not consider death at all. Eventually a person may attend a funeral or two, but death still does not show up on his radar. At some point, parents and close friends die. And it is at this point that death becomes real.

Almost daily, Christians pray that God’s kingdom will come, and we ask Mary to pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Yet we are stopped in our tracks when it actually faces us. I know; me too.

WWJD (What Would Jesus Do)? “I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And I shall raise up those who believe in me on the last day.”

WDPW (What Did Paul Write)? “We were indeed buried with Christ Jesus through baptism into his death. If we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”

What we pray and what we believe really does have an effect.

Reflection by Br. Jacob Kubajak, OSB