Readings: 2 Maccabees 12:43-46; Psalm 63; Philippians 3:20-21; Luke 7:11-17
Yesterday, we celebrated with great joy the Solemnity of All Saints, praising God for the triumph of grace in the lives of all our brothers and sisters who now behold His face in glory. Today, in the same spirit of communion, the Church invites us to turn our hearts toward those who have departed this life but have not yet attained the perfection of heaven.
We remember the faithful departed – our family members, friends, acquaintances, colleagues, priests, religious, and parishioners – who are undergoing purification in Purgatory. This commemoration of All Souls expresses the deep conviction of the Church that love reaches beyond death and that our prayers can help those who are being purified to share in the full vision of God.
FIRST READING
I. “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead” (2 Maccabees 12:45)
The First Reading presents Judas Maccabeus collecting a sum of money to be sent to Jerusalem to offer sacrifice for the dead. Scripture tells us, “It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins.” This is the clearest biblical witness to the doctrine of Purgatory – that there is a state of purification after death for souls who die in friendship with God but still need cleansing from the temporal effects of sin.
The action of Judas Maccabeus shows faith in the mercy of God and belief in life beyond the grave. Those who have died in God’s grace can still benefit from the prayers and offerings of the living. When we offer Masses, prayers, and sacrifices for the dead, we participate in the communion of saints – the unbroken bond of love between the Church on earth, the Church in purgation, and the Church in glory.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
II. “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord” (Psalm 63)
The Responsorial Psalm beautifully expresses the longing of souls for God. “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord.” This thirst captures both the yearning of the faithful departed for the face of God and our own desire for union with Him. Souls in Purgatory are saved – they are certain of heaven – but they thirst for the full vision of the Lord’s glory.
We too are called to live each day in such longing. The more we desire God on earth, the more we are purified by love now, and the less we will have to be purified later.
SECOND READING
III. “He will transform our lowly bodies” (Philippians 3:20-21)
St. Paul, in the Second Reading, reminds us that “our homeland is in heaven,” and that Christ will “transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body.” This is the Christian hope that sustains our remembrance of the dead. Death is not the end; it is a transition. The bodies we now carry, marked by sin and weakness, will one day share in the risen glory of Christ.
This is why our prayers for the departed are never in vain. Every act of charity, every indulgence, every Mass offered hastens that glorious transformation. The same Christ who raised the widow’s son in today’s Gospel is the Lord of life who raises souls from the fire of purification into the joy of His presence.
GOSPEL
IV. “Young man, I tell you, arise!” (Luke 7:11-17)
The Gospel recounts the touching story of the widow of Nain. Jesus encounters a funeral procession, and moved with compassion, He restores the dead man to life. The crowd praises God, saying, “God has visited His people.”
This miracle reveals the heart of Jesus – a heart moved by human suffering and by the pain of separation caused by death. His words, “Young man, I tell you, arise,” echo beyond that moment in history. They are the same words by which He calls the souls in Purgatory to arise toward their eternal rest. Every Mass we offer for the dead, every prayer for the departed, allows the merciful voice of Christ to resound once again: “Arise, come forth, enter into joy.”
V. Who are those in Purgatory and why are they there?
Those in Purgatory are people who died in God’s friendship but are not yet perfect in love. They are there for three main reasons:
- They died in venial sin – that is, lesser sins which do not destroy charity but still require purification.
- They are atoning for temporal punishments due to sins already forgiven. The guilt has been removed through confession, but satisfaction for the effects of sin is still required.
- Their love for God, though genuine, was imperfect. They were on the path of holiness but did not reach full sanctity before death.
Purgatory, then, is both mercy and justice – mercy, because God gives souls another opportunity to be purified rather than condemned and justice, because divine holiness cannot coexist with sin. As Scripture says, “You were a God who forgave them, yet you punished their misdeeds” (Psalm 99:8).
VI. What is our response today?
- Pray for the souls in Purgatory.
We can offer Masses, Rosaries, Stations of the Cross, good works, and indulgences for them. The greatest charity we can show to the dead is to help them reach heaven. We can make this part of our daily prayer life, not only on All Souls Day.
- Practice penance and seek indulgences.
Even after confession, we must make reparation for the temporal consequences of sin. Through penance, almsgiving, fasting, and indulgences, we purify ourselves and reduce our own time of purification. If we do not atone here, purification awaits us there.
- Strive daily for holiness.
We must never be comfortable with sin. What we call “little sins” can have eternal effects. Neglect of prayer, missing Mass for trivial reasons, carelessness in worship, gossip, unforgiveness, pride, immodesty, and dishonesty – these small compromises can require purification. Let us confess our sins promptly and live with reverence before God.
Conclusion
We are all pilgrims on the same road to heaven. None of us is perfect, but the Lord calls us to make an effort – to live sincerely, love deeply, and rely on His mercy. When God sees our efforts to please Him, He perfects us in His love and may grant us the grace to pass directly into His glory when our time comes.
As we pray for the departed today, we also pray for the grace to live holy lives, so that our own souls may one day rejoice with the Saints in the light of His face.
May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Sermon preached by Fr Emmanuel Baraka-Gukena Okami on November 2, 2025