All Souls Day (Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed) Nov. 2. 2025

Nov. 02. 2025 - Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. Readings: Wisdom 3: 1-9 Psalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6; Roman 5: 5-11 John 6: 37-40. Introduction. Dear Brothers and Sisters. As we gather to honor and remember our departed loved ones, we are invited to reflect on the profound mystery of life, death, and the promise of eternal life. The readings remind us profoundly of God’s abiding love and mercy for all soul. In the book of Wisdom, we are reminded that "the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God." This beautiful truth reassures us that those we have loved and lost are not truly gone; they are cradled in God’s loving embrace. Their experiences in life may have ended, but their journey continues in the divine presence. In today’s Psalm, we find a source of comfort in the image of God as our shepherd. "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me." This psalm reassures us that God accompanies us in our grief, guiding us through our sorrow and pain. In the Second Reading, St. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells us that through Christ’s sacrifice, we have been reconciled to God. This reconciliation is not limited to the living; it extends to those who have gone before us. Our prayers today for the faithful departed reflect our confidence that God’s love knows no bounds and reaches to every soul in need of His grace. In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus’ promise: “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not turn away anyone who comes to me.”