All Souls Day, Nov.

2, 2014
(Wisdom 3:1-9; Romans 6:3-9; John 6:37-40)
The normal cycle of Sunday readings gives way to the Feast of
All Souls Day, which follows naturally after All Saints Day. Any of
the readings used at Catholic funerals could be used on this Sunday.
These comments are on the readings suggested for this feast in Ohio
dioceses. The choice of readings may vary from parish to parish.
The Wisdom reading is often chosen as the Old Testament
reading for funerals. It was likely written during the first century BC
(around 50 BC according to most commentators). Because it was
written in Greek, it could not be included in Hebrew Bibles because
the Rabbis decided that Hebrew was a requirement for any work to be
included in the canonical Bible. It was probably written at Alexandria
in Egypt, which was a great center of learning in the ancient world.
Wisdoms author was a talented writer with a broad knowledge of
Jewish history and writings.
Scholars have pointed to the similarity between the first ten
chapters of Wisdom and the teachings of Jesus, which suggests that
Jesus was familiar with the influence of Wisdom on his own times.
The liturgy makes frequent use of Wisdom throughout the year.
The belief in life after death arose very late in Judaism and this
passage reflects that emerging belief fairly clearly, which is why
people are drawn to this reflection on the occasion of a funeral. If
indeed the souls of the just are in the hand of God, then immediately
the reader is drawn into this pattern of thought.
Only the foolish thought the just to be dead. But they are in
peace, says Wisdom. The hope of the just is full of immortality.
The alternative is to have no hope at all.
The idea of nothingness after death, which follows naturally from
having no hope, is unfortunately all too prevalent these days. Those
who hold such a position live only in the present moment without any
sense of judgment, let alone of experiencing the grace and the mercy

of God. Why would they? If life is all about now only, why would
anyone have reason to hope?
Wisdom regards the death of the just as but a chastisement; a time
of being tried by God; an opportunity for God to find them worthy,
and thereby taken by God into Gods own presence. Those who trust
in the Lord shall understand truthshall abide with (the Lord) in
love, and will enjoy Gods grace and mercy and care.
The Romans reading is also often chosen at funerals, as Paul
reflects on Christian Baptism, by which the Christian is baptized into
the death and resurrection of Christ. Accordingly, if we are dead to sin
by baptism then we are also one with Christ in his resurrection. At a
funeral this reflection is more for the living than it is for the dearly
departed. We know that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more.
If indeed the Christian dies with Christ in Baptism, then that Christian
is no longer a slave to sin. The reading is a reminder that we are called
to live lives free from sin because of our own baptism in Christ
Jesus.
Finally, the passage from Johns Gospel is part of the lengthy
Bread of life discourse. It is a consoling thought and a reassurance that
The will of my Father (is) that everyone who sees the Son and
believes in him may have eternal life and I shall raise him on the last
day. That should be a cause for hope to all who bear the name Christ,
and for all those, known only to God, who are partners in the paschal
mystery (see Gaudium et Spes, #22).

Fr. Lawrence Hummer