Today is All Soul’s Day. The Hispanics call it Dia de la Muerta. What is it and why is it commemorated?
William-Adolphe_Bouguereau_(1825-1905The Day of the Dead(1859)
In Western Christianity, All Souls’ Day is observed principally in the Catholic Church, although some churches of Anglican Communion and the Old Catholic Churches also celebrate it. The Eastern Orthodox Church observes several All Souls’ Days during the year. The Roman Catholic celebration is associated with the doctrine that the souls of the faithful who at death have not been cleansed from the temporal punishment due to venial sins and from attachment to mortal sins cannot immediately attain the beatific vision in heaven, and that they may be helped to do so by prayer and by the sacrifice of the Mass. In other words, when they died, they had not yet attained full sanctification and moral perfection, a requirement for entrance into Heaven. This sanctification is carried out posthumously in Purgatory. (Wikipedia)
Whether you believe in that doctrine or not, the fact is that Jesus understood the sorrow of death. He wept over Lazarus, not because he was dead, but because of what that death did to his sisters Mary and Martha. He felt their deep sorrow and mourning.
Two years ago tomorrow my husband died in the shower. He had a lot of issues that he was afraid to give to God. But he had been baptised and sealed as Christ’s own forever. I believe that in that time between death and eternal life, he and Christ came to an understanding about all of that. How long that period is can only be known by God. But I firmly believe He loves us so much that He does not want any of us to be lost forever. He will give us every chance to fall at His feet and proclaim Him as Lord. That is why He died for our sins. As Michael Card sang, they didn’t need to nail Christ to that cross, His love kept Him there.
If it soothes your soul to pray for the dead, I think God honors that. Scripture says –
We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
Jesus intercedes for all believers in Heaven. (Romans 8:34)
One day the dead will rise first, and we will all meet Him in the clouds. (1 Thessalonians 4:16- 17)
We will be given new spiritual bodies. (1 Corinthians 15:44)
There will be no more sorrow or pain. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:4
That is worth praying for. Maranatha.
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