The Commemoration of All the Holy Souls

“The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought anaffliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine,” -Wisdom 3:1-7

I was once chastised, and although I did not understand it as it occurred, It was a great blessing. Indeed, the impurities of sin on my soul were burned away, white-hot as if in a furnace. In the first Book of Maccabees, we learn of the Feast of Dedication, which Jesus celebrated. In the second Book of Maccabees, we hear of praying for the souls of the departed. These Texts were in the Septuagint, the Scripture texts that Jesus quoted. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us that there is still forgiveness after we pass. Friends, let us pray today for the Holy Souls, who are still being proved by our merciful God.  

“And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” -Matthew 12:32

“Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.” -Luke 12:57:59

All the Holy Souls, pray for us.

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Jesus, I trust in you!