November 2, 2007 at Saint Mark Church in Norman, OK
Wisdom 3: 1-9 + Psalm 23 + Romans 6: 3-9 + John 6: 37-40
Jesus is not willing to lose anyone, and this day sustains the hope we place in the strength of His desire. It is as much an affirmation of our faith in a God of Mercy
as it is a profession of faith in life everlasting. It is a day that rightly considered might lessen our fear of death not so much because we have a “second change” in “Purgatory” but because life and all that goes with it for faithful people does not end in death.
We have no idea how this might happen, the possibility of purification and pardon, but we have every reason to live with this expectation. It is not that we somehow, we deserve mercy, but that God will not abandon us to ourselves.
There is more to this day than simply a “memorial”, more than a nostalgic brooding over people who once were with us. Our prayers this day are really an involvement in what these people are now growing into the company of the Father; human beings, children of God who need to hear from us, know that we are with them, and that we are learning from their example.
Think about what it is like to have a dear friend struggle with some personal challenge, something deeply involving, a real personal choice; the sort of thing you know you can’t fix for them. All you can do is stand back and prayerfully encourage, support and hope. You know they can do it and that they will do it and so your prayer is not fearful but hopeful, maybe a little lonely, but not without confidence.
This is what we are doing today, expressing our confidence that Jesus is not willing to lose anyone. And that because we have helped each other through a lot of purgatories already, we shall continue to do so as long as it takes.