All Souls Day Homily

Readings: Wisdom 3:1–9; Psalm 23; Romans 5:5–11; John 6:37–40

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

As we gather today for All Souls Day, we fondly remember our loved ones who are no more with us now. We are surrounded not just by one another, but by memories—memories of parents, grandparents, children, friends, and loved ones who once sat beside us, who shared our laughter, our meals, our joys, and our tears. Today, we carry their names in our hearts and lift them before the mercy of God.

It is fitting that this day falls during the season of fall. Nature itself seems to mourn with us. The trees shed their leaves, the air turns cool, and the earth grows quiet. The world looks as though it, too, has lost something precious. And yet, deep down, we know this season of fading beauty is not the end. Beneath the surface, life is only resting. In time, spring will come again, and the trees will bloom with new life.

This rhythm of nature mirrors what we believe about death. The falling leaves remind us that death is not destruction—it is transformation. As the Book of Wisdom tells us, “The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and no torment shall touch them.” What seems like loss in our eyes is, in God’s sight, the beginning of a new life—life that is purified, perfected, and eternal.

For those of us who grieve, those words can be hard to hear. We miss the touch of a hand, the sound of a voice, the laughter that once filled our homes. Grief has a way of making the world feel empty. But Psalm 23 reminds us, “The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.” Even as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we are not alone. God walks beside us—guiding, comforting, and whispering to our hearts: Your loved one is safe with Me.

St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, gives us hope that “hope does not disappoint.” Because of Jesus, death has lost its sting. Because of His cross, love has conquered the grave. God’s love has been “poured into our hearts,” and that love connects us forever with those who have gone before us. The bond we share with them in love is stronger than death—it stretches across heaven and earth.

And then, in today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a promise that speaks directly to every grieving heart: “Everyone who believes in me shall have eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day.” What a tender assurance! Jesus looks at our tears and says, “Do not be afraid. Your loved ones are with me, and one day, you will see them again.”

So, my dear families, when you visit the cemetery or light a candle today, remember: your prayers are not whispers into the void. They reach the very heart of God. The ones you love are alive in Him, more alive than ever before. Death may have changed their presence, but it has not erased their love.

Let us also hold onto the image of the seasons. Just as autumn gives way to winter, and winter blossoms into spring, so too our human life gives way to something more glorious. The tree that seems barren will bloom again. The life that seems lost will rise in splendor.

Today, we remember with love. We pray with hope. And we trust that one day, we will all gather again in that eternal springtime where no one will ever have to say goodbye.

May the souls of all the faithful departed—especially those we carry in our hearts today—through the mercy of God, rest in peace. And may the Lord, our Good Shepherd, comfort and strengthen all who mourn, until we meet again in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.