The Narrow Way of Saints & Souls

Last week, we heard Jesus speak some truths that are hard for us to hear. He loves us so much, He is willing to speak those truths. We are tempted to ignore some of His teachings because we want the Storybook Jesus who allows us all to live happily ever after together. We sometimes sit starry-eyed, envisioning our perfect eternal life with God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, & Blessed Virgin Mary our Mother, and all the Angels & Saints, and all our loved ones. We will be walking the streets of gold and dancing to the unbelievably glorious music of the heavenly hosts.

That's what God wants for us, so why wouldn't He grant that Blessing to everyone? He knows we are flawed. He knew before we were born that we would waver, mess up, and be far from perfect. He made us that way, right? So when we die, He will immediately grant us all blanket forgiveness and gather us into His wide open arms, right? And all who have gone before us will be there to greet us and welcome us to our forever Heavenly Home, right? Well, that may be stretching it a bit.

Photo Credit: Tanya Barrow

Last Wednesday, we heard a Gospel Reading that paints a different picture of our path to the Heavenly Kingdom. Someone asked, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

Jesus said: “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." (Luke 13:24)

As we usher in this Month of All Souls, we notice that the weather cools and darkness comes earlier in the evening. Our thoughts and prayers turn toward the faithful departed, and to our own death that will one day come.

Today concludes the triduum of Allhallowtide, which goes like this:

• All Hallows’ Eve October 31st ~ This sacred day has morphed into Halloween fun, but the day is meant for much more than just dressing in costume and eating too much candy. "Hallow" means Holy, and All Hallows Eve is about commemorating those who have gone before us. They faced death and the Final Judgment, and are now spending eternity either in Heaven, Purgatory, or Hell.

  
  

• All Saints’ Day November 1st ~ This day, we honor all the Saints who have entered perfect holiness worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, those canonized and those unknown to us. Commemorating the Saints reminds us that we are also made to be Saints, and this gives us hope that we will one day join them in the place God has prepared for us.

  
  

• All Souls’ Day November 2nd ~ Today, we remember all the Faithful Departed Souls, especially our family members and friends who have died. We pray for all souls in Purgatory, especially those who have no one to pray for them. They are being made perfectly holy and worthy of Heaven.

As we remember our faithful departed brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, children and friends this month, our hope is that they have received their reward and rest peacefully in the arms of the Savior. It is easy to remember the best of others when they are no longer present and not think about their faults. At funerals, we often hear well-meaning people say, "They are in Heaven now, free of pain, with no more sorrow or suffering." We hope and pray it be so for them and for us, but we do not know that for certain. There is record of ancient prayers of expiation for the dead. Pope Gregory the Great, Saint Paul, and 2Maccabees wrote about the purification or cleansing of souls in order that the faithful may attain resurrection at the Final Judgment.

I participated in something new to me on All Saints Day. After my entire life of Catholic worship, I attended my first Mass in a cemetery.

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, Long Beach

The weather was crisp and the sun was shining. Birds responded in song after the people responded in prayer, and a gentle breeze ruffled our hair and skin in the moments of silence reminding us of God's presence in that sacred space and the gathering of all the angels and saints at every sacrifice of the Mass. Afterward, the priests and deacon blessed all of the worshippers and all of the graves with holy water. Although my friend and I didn't know anyone buried there, we walked through the graveyard praying and sharing stories of our experiences with death.

God wants us all to be with Him.

And through His suffering, death, and resurrection, Jesus opened the way for us to receive the gift of everlasting life.

"Jesus said, 'For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I shall raise them on the last day." (John 6:40)

It's good to make time this month to remember those souls who have gone before us — including the Early Church Fathers, Church leaders we have known, Family, Friends, and Fellow Parishioners. Many honor the traditions of visiting cemeteries to clean the graves and pray for the dead. I like to also display photos of my family members who have passed away. As we sit in remembrance of the faithful departed, it is good to ponder:

~ Did they enter the Narrow Gate?

~ What did they truly believe?

~ Did the way they acted, spoke, loved, and lived show that they were Christians?

~ How did they carry on Jesus' Mission?

~ What can we learn from them?

Then, we turn our thoughts to ourselves and what will become of us when we face death and the Final Judgment. We ponder:

~ What are others learning from me?

~ How am I carrying on Jesus' Mission?

~ Do I act, speak, love, and live as a Christian who follows Jesus?

~ What do I truly believe?

~ Will I enter the Narrow Gate?

Let's dedicate time, prayer, and reflection during this month of All Souls to consider what we are doing that is leading us to the Narrow Gate, and what we are doing that is leading us away from it.

Jesus is waiting for us there. Do we see Him? Finding our way to the Narrow Gate can sometimes feel exhausting and perhaps impossible. It is a daily choice, at times it's a daily battle. We feel unequipped to succeed. But there is Good News! We also heard last Wednesday in Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans that when we moan about not being worthy and once again doing what we shouldn't do or failing to do what we ought to do, the ultimate helper is ready and waiting to assist us and lead us to the Kingdom.

"The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will." (Romans 8:26-27)

We, too, can enter the Narrow Gate!

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IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE, BUT ADVENT BEGINS FOUR WEEKS FROM TODAY!

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I invite you to join me in Joyful Waiting this Advent Season with my new book, Advent Reflections for Our World Today, available to order online through Dogwood Press.

How we spend our days and nights during Advent matters. For most of us, life gets extra busy in the month leading up to Christmas. It’s difficult to be holy and focused when you’re overloaded and overwhelmed. Reflections for Advent in Our World Today is a weekly devotional laid out in a manageable format without the worry of keeping up with daily readings. The focus is the Sunday Gospels of Advent for Liturgical Year A. We will dig deep into a few key points for prayer and reflection throughout the week.

Lectio Divina, an ancient form of prayer, is the inspiration for the book, and the Modern Day Parables accompany each of the four Advent Gospel Readings. Those stories place the theme of Scripture in a contemporary, more relatable setting, making it easier to place yourself in the story and invite the Lord to speak into how you would react and respond in the situations.

This book includes everything you need to complete the study: the Gospel texts, the corresponding Parables, thoughts to Pause and Ponder, a few questions to Reflect and Respond, weekly prayers, and inspirational quotes from the Saints. Plus, there’s room to record your own thoughts and inspirations so you can revisit the highlights throughout each week — and it’s the perfect size to carry with you.

I pray it will be a worthy guide to experience a rich and meaningful Advent Season!

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Gaze upon the image of the beautiful, miraculous story of God coming into the world as a newborn baby. We are called to spend Advent in Joyful Waiting. Yet, the Readings are filled with warnings to ‘Stay Awake! Be Prepared! Repent!’ It is a challenge to focus on the Joy of the Savior’s birth when we are reading such stark and serious Scripture, but that is precisely what we are called to do! None of us is without sin and even the holiest people among us have room to grow in Faith.

It doesn’t feel good to be more aware of our faults and sins, but it gives us greater insight into ways we can grow closer to Jesus and be more like Him. 

Let's open ourselves to the real purpose of Advent as a time of preparation, prayer, and joyful waiting!

Click to Order Here

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💙💙💙 Special thanks to my good friend, Butch B, who made the most meaningful gift for me. Thank you, Butch, for the beautiful writing pen made of olive wood and the perfect leather pen holder. I put your great gift to good use on this project. 💙💙💙