Bible Diary

Daily Reading

All Souls

LECTIONARY
668

FIRST READING

Wis 3:1-9

But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster,and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of others they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones, and he watches over his elect.

PSALM

PS 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6

Response: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul.

He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.

SECOND READING

Rom 5:5-11

And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

GOSPEL

Jn 6:37-40

All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Daily Reflection

If you are afraid to die, then perhaps you are not convinced about life after death! Our Catholic faith tells us that those who have chosen to live a life with God during their earthly existence, will after their earthly life continue to live eternally with God... this would be heaven. Those who have chosen to live apart from God while on earth, will continue to live eternally away from God... this would be Hell. Because we live a life that alternates between sinfulness and repentance, we would need to go through a process of purification after our earthly existence (to be purged of all sin and evil) before we live eternally with God ... this process of purification is called Purgatory.

Those in heaven, because they are already with God, intercede for us; while those in purgatory because they are still on their journey towards God, need our intercessions... this is why we are called to pray for the dead.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord… and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls rest in peace... Amen.