Mass of Remembrance
Wisdom 3:1-9
Psalm 23
Romans 6:3-9
John 6:37-40
November 2, 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tonight we gather to offer this Mass of Remembrance for our loved ones who died in the last year. Some died as the result of an accident. Some died of old age. Some died of long-term illness. Some died of a short-term illness<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The constant in all of these is that they have passed from this world. Without faith, \u201ctheir passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s without<\/em><\/strong> faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Faith changes that. With faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus we do not see earthly death as \u201cutter destruction.<\/em>\u201d With faith in Jesus our hope is \u201cfull of immortality.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Christian hope is a source of strength in our grieving but we still grieve. We know that \u201cchastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed<\/em>\u201d in Heaven. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, that doesn\u2019t change the fact that we miss them. The loss may be temporary until we share with them in the Resurrection but it is real. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We might come tonight feeling like our faith must be weak or we would not be grieving. That\u2019s not true. If you didn\u2019t have faith, you won\u2019t be here now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We may find ourselves dealing with denial about how they died. We may feel anger about the circumstances of their death. We may find ourselves depressed because they are no longer with us. These are real feelings. They are natural as part of the \u201cdark valley<\/em>\u201d that the Lord speaks of in the 23rd<\/sup> Psalm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We come tonight to pray that our loved ones who were baptized in the name of Jesus may be \u201cunited with him in the resurrection.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We come tonight to offer this Mass for them. Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We know they have died. We believe in the resurrection but before they can enter Heaven one thing remains, Purgatory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n