You've heard me say before that one of my greatest privileges as a priest is that I often get to be with the dying. Privilege? What are you talking about? Many people have that reaction. They say things like, "How could you do that? Isn't it depressing? I bet you can't wait to get out of there!" I understand their feelings. What they don't know is that those are some of the holiest and most meaningful moments in my ministry. If the person's family is also present, it is even that much "better", if I can use such a word.

There are times when I almost have to hold back a smile on my face, because in my heart I believe that everything's going to be ok. After all, the dying are in the hands of the very best Caregiver, the very best Healer, the very best Comforter. I know that despite the sorrow and grief, the family is going to be ok too. For it is in those vulnerable moments that we are most open to God's grace, God's touch, God's healing love. When someone is close to death, all illusions have been stripped away, all the trappings and false promises of this world no longer mean anything. No, in those moments we are in real communion with God --nothing in the way --- just God drawing us to himself --- the dying person and those left behind.

The three things we always do in that situation is remember, pray, and give thanks.

I remember the day my mother died. My family gathered at her bedside. They told stories from the past, talked openly about death. They prayed for mom and one another. It was sad --- no question about it, for they were going to miss her, there was no fear. In some strange way, it was ok. Mom would be ok. They would be ok too, because of God’s love, goodness, and promises, They could accept it. I was never present for the death of my father or mother because I was in the missions. That was ok by me.

As I look around this church, I see so many of you who have lost loved ones in recent years. I know it hurts ---sometimes in an unbearable way --- as if part of you is missing. For some of you, the death was unexpected, coming with little or no warning. Many of you did not get the opportunity to say what you wanted to say. You didn't have the privilege of saying thank-you or I love you or goodbye. That can be a great regret. Well, one great consolation is that, in faith, we believe that the relationships we build on earth do not end in death. The people we loved in this life we continue to love even after they have died. One of the ways we do that is through our prayers. We consider praying for the dead to be a good and holy thing. It's ok if you have trouble figuring out how it "works" or why it's helpful. Don't get stuck on what is not important

. What's most important is that we do it --with true hope in our hearts --- that we thank God for our loved ones, ask God to watch over them, have mercy on them, and welcome them home. We don't forget our loved ones or stop remembering them because they have died. No. We continue to love them always. With a teeny bit of selfishness, we ask them to keep loving us too. As you probably know, many cultures in the Catholic family do special things this day --- particularly our Latino brothers and sisters. Some of these customs involve setting up "altars" covered with various mementos of loved ones --- things to remember them by. Some people even put out the person's favorite food as a way of asserting their belief that their loved one lives on. Of course, they put out pictures, lots and lots of pictures. What a wonderful way of expressing to the world that death is not the end, and that even after our earthly deaths, we are all still connected. Nothing can change that. Death no longer has power over us. The victory has been won.Today, All Souls day, we have the perfect opportunity to rejoice in our God who has destroyed death for ever, Today's the day to pray for, remember, and give thanks to God for those people who have meant so much to us.  

This day to truly call to mind those who have meant the most to you and who have gone before you in faith. I’ll be remembering my mom and my dad today. I’m going to think about him watching wrestling, working on the car, reading the paper, playing checkers, and just being great Christian. My mom, what a beautiful gentle person. I’m going to remember them and give thanks for all the goodness and love they showed me throughout my life. I’m also going to ask them to pray for me, to continue to love me even though their earthly life has ended. Knowing that I am still connected to them, brings me a tremendous amount of comfort and peace,

I'm going to remember them in a special way, give thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, who through His undying love, has made all of this not simply a dream but a reality, something incredibly profound. 

That’s what I’m going to do today. How about you? I invite you to do the same.

Blessings be to you and your dear family, my good people of God!

Fr. Alex