Today we pray for all of those who have gone ahead of us in death,

is a day of prayer and remembrance for the faithful departed, observed by Christians on 2 November.

It is because love keeps our connection with each other alive.

Death is but a passage to life, to the real life where all of us are destined to reach.

that through God’s mercy they will receive the reward of eternal life with him.

We pray for ourselves too that when our time comes, we will share in the same reward.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Wisdom of Solomon 3:1-9 

The souls of the just are

SAINT SIMON THE ZEALOT, THE APOSTLE

Almost nothing is known about Simon in the Bible, only once to list his name alongside the other twelve disciples.

Saint Simon the Zealot, during his three years of ministry with Jesus, matured into an apostle. Able to spread the gospel in truth and love to all nations.

According to church tradition, he served as a missionary in Egypt and was martyred in Persia.

SAINT JUDE, THE APOSTLE

Saint Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of Saint James the Less, Saint Jude is not the same person as Judas Iscariot.

His mother Mary was the Virgin Mary's cousin. He was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 2:19-22 

Now you are no longer

The Church has declared some people saints, holding them up as models of virtue.

By honoring them, we honor Him Who made them holy.

Honoring the saints, To strive after the holiness the saints attained.

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14

I saw another angel,

 At times we too are blinded by power and self-aggrandizement.

The disciples were depicted to be the real blind people.

Because of their failure to understand the true meaning of Jesus' messiahship.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 31:7-9

For Yahweh says this,

Paul invites us to face the challenges and dangers around us by putting on God’s armor:

of truth, justice, zeal, faith, salvation, and the word of God.

In other words, Paul’s invitation is to “put on Christ” (Rom 13:14)and “have the mind of Christ” (Phil 2:5) 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 6:10-20

Finally, be strong in the Lord,

 Like the gardener in the parable,  positively sees the potential of the currently unproductive fig tree

and is willing to risk giving it yet another opportunity and to work towards helping the tree realize the potential.

 Blessed Virgin Mary

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 4:7-16

But to each of us

It can be compared to an athlete who does all kinds of strenuous preparations to win the contest.

It is not a simple entry through an easy door.

The persistent, that they endured in entering the narrow gate will be amply rewarded.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Ephesians 6:1-9

Children, obey your parents

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 4:1-6

Therefore, I, the prisoner of Christ,

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel”

The kingdom of God is like a small seed that grew and became a large tree.

The mustard seed and the yeast in today’s gospel parables: small, subtle, almost invisible;

but they keep transforming the world around.

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Ephesians 5:21-33

Let all kinds of submission

In today's Gospel, Jesus says that he has come to bring fire on the earth.

There is a long tradition in the Bible of God appearing as fire.

When Abraham made his covenant with the Lord, the Lord appeared as a flaming torch to ratify the pact.

In the New Testament, the Holy Spirit descends on the gathered disciples as tongues of fire.

St. Anthony Mary Claret, bishop

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Ephesians 3:14-21

And now