By Preet Anupam Beck csc.
Readings: Wis 3:1-9c; Rom 5:5-11; Jn 6:37-40
Today, we commemorate all the faithful departed. The readings of today bring hope and call me to live a life of righteousness. Hope does not put us to shame because righteous people are in the hands of God. Death is not the end as Christ has risen, and he will raise me on the last day.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (998) says that the righteous will rise to the resurrection of life and evil people will rise to the resurrection of judgement. On earth, I am invited to be a beacon of hope for others through my life. I have the saints as examples who had hope and walked in the path of righteousness and left deep footprints. They too had struggles but they did not trudge; they strode. I am called to follow them in their footprints.
In the Gospel, Jesus said that he had come to do the will of God the Father. He asks me to surrender my life to him. I am motivated to live each day as if it were my last day. This attitude helps me to prioritize what is important in my life and make the most of every moment. Living a righteous life is not about being perfect but about making a conscious effort to do what is right and good in accordance with God’s will.