Readings for Sunday, November 2, 2025
.jpeg)
Lectionary: 668
Tifkira Solenni tal-Għid tal-Imwiet
The following are a selection of the readings that may be chosen for this day.
Reading 1 Wisdom 3:1-9
The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace. For if before men, indeed, they be punished, yet is their hope full of immortality; chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed, because God tried them and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace, he proved them, and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself. In the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; they shall judge nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord shall be their King forever. Those who trust in him shall understand truth, and the faithful shall abide with him in love: because grace and mercy are with his holy ones, and his care is with his elect.
Qari 1 mill-Ktieb ta’ Ġob 19:1.23-27a
Ġob wieġeb u qal: “Mhux li kien jiġi maħżuż fi ktieb, jew b’xafra tal-ħadid u ċ-ċomb għal dejjem fil-blat jitnaqqax! Jien naf li d-difensur tiegħi ħaj, u fl-aħħar fuq it-trab iqum. U wara li jintemm ġildi, mingħajr laħmi nara ’l Alla, li jien narah maġenbi. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. (R/)
He guides me in right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
with your rod and your staff
that give me courage. (R/).
You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. (R/)
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come. (R/)
SALM RESPONSORJALI Salm 26
R/. (ara 6): Nemmen li għad nara t-tjieba tal-Mulej f’art il-ħajjin!
Il-Mulej hu d-dawl u s-salvazzjoni tiegħi;
minn min għandi nibża’?
Il-Mulej hu l-kenn tiegħi;
quddiem min għandi nitwerwer? R/.
Ħaġa waħda tlabt lill-Mulej, lilha nfittex:
li ngħammar f’dar il-Mulej il-jiem kollha ta’ ħajti,
biex nitgħaxxaq bil-ħlewwa tal-Mulej
u nbakkar fit-tempju tiegħu. R/.
Isma’, Mulej, il-leħen tiegħi:
meta ngħajjat, ħenn għalija u weġibni.
Jien infittex ’il wiċċek, Mulej;
la taħbix wiċċek minni. R/.
Nemmen li għad nara t-tjieba tal-Mulej f’art il-ħajjin.
Ittama fil-Mulej, żomm sħiħ u qawwi qalbek,
ittama fil-Mulej. R/.
Reading 2 Romans 5:5-11
Brothers and sisters: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. For Christ, while we were still helpless, died at the appointed time for the ungodly. Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die. But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. How much more then, since we are now justified by his Blood, will we be saved through him from the wrath. Indeed, if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, how much more, once reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Not only that, but we also boast of God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
QARI 2 mill-Ittra ta’ San Pawl Appostlu lir-Rumani 5:5-11
Ħuti: It-tama ma tqarraqx bina, għaliex l-imħabba ta’ Alla ssawbet fina permezz tal-Ispirtu s-Santu li kien mogħti lilna. Meta kien il-waqt, u aħna konna għadna bla saħħa, Kristu miet għal dawk li kienu bla Alla. Wieħed bilkemm imut għal bniedem ġust, għad li wieħed għandu mnejn jagħmel il-qalb u jmut għal wieħed tajjeb. Iżda Alla wera mħabbtu lejna meta Kristu miet għalina, aħna ġġustifikati b’demmu, insalvaw permezz tiegħu mill-korla ta’ Alla! Jekk meta konna għadna għedewwa ta’ Alla tħabbibna miegħu bis-saħħa tal-mewt ta’ Ibnu, kemm aktar issa, li aħna ħbieb miegħu, insalvaw permezz tal-ħajja tiegħu! Mhux hekk biss, imma niftaħru wkoll f’Alla b’Sidna Ġesù Kristu, li permezz tiegħu issa ksibna l-ħbiberija ma’ Alla. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
Gospel John 6:37-40
Jesus said to the crowds: “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. 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 him on the last day.”
EVANĠELJU Qari skont San Ġwann 6:37-40
F’dak iż-żmien: Ġesù qal lin-nies: “Dak kollu li missieri jagħtini jiġi għandi, u min jiġi għandi ma nkeċċihx ’il barra; għax jiena nżilt mis-sema biex nagħmel mhux ir-rieda tiegħi, imma r-rieda ta’ min bagħatni. Issa r-rieda ta’ min bagħatni hija din: li jiena ma nitlef xejn minn dak kollu li tani, iżda li nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. Għax ir-rieda ta’ Missieri hija din: li kull min jara l-Iben u jemmen fih ikollu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem u jiena nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej
///////////////////////////
An 8-minute Reflection on Sunday's Readings by Fr Anthony Kadavil
Introduction:
All Souls’ Day is a day specially set apart so that we may remember and pray for our dear ones who have gone for their eternal reward, and who are currently in a state of ongoing purification.
Ancient belief supported by Church tradition: People of all religions have believed in the immortality of the soul and have prayed for the dead:
1) The Jews, for example, believed that there was a place of temporary bondage from which the souls of the dead would receive their final release. The Jewish catechism, Talmud, states that prayers for the dead will help to bring them greater rewards and blessings to. Prayer for the souls of the departed is retained by the Orthodox Jews today, who recite a prayer known as the Mourner’s Kaddish for eleven months after the death of a loved one so that he/she may be purified.
2) First century practice: Jesus and the apostles shared this belief and passed it on to the early Church. “Remember us who have gone before you, in your prayers,” is a petition often found inscribed on the walls of the Roman catacombs (Lumen Gentium-50).
3) The liturgies of the Mass in various rites dating from the early centuries of the Church include “Prayers for the Dead.”
4) The early Fathers of the Church encouraged this practice. Tertullian (AD 160-240) wrote about the anniversary Masses for the dead, advising widows to pray for their husbands. St. Augustine (AD 354 – 430) remarked that he used to pray for his deceased mother, remembering her request: "When I die, bury me anywhere you like, but remember to pray for me at the altar" (St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, Book 9, Chapter 11, Section 27).
5) The Synods of Nicaea, Florence and Trent encouraged the offering of prayers for the dead, citing Scriptural evidences to prove that there is a place or state of purification for those who die with venial sins on their souls.
Theological reasoning:
According to Rev 21:27: “…nothing unclean shall enter Heaven.” Holy Scripture (Prv 24:16) also teaches that even "the just sin seven times a day.” Since it would be contrary to the mercy of God to punish such souls with venial sins in Hell, they are seen as entering a place or state of purification, called Purgatory, which combines God’s justice with His mercy. This teaching is also contained in the doctrine of the Communion of Saints.
Biblical basis:
1) II Mc 12:46 is the main Biblical text incorporating the Jewish belief in the necessity of prayer and sacrifice for the dead. The passage (II Mc 12:39-46), describes how Judas, the military commander, “took up a collection from all his men, totaling about four pounds of silver and sent it to Jerusalem to provide for a sin offering” (II Mc 12:43). The narrator continues, "If he had not believed that the dead would be raised, it would have been foolish and useless to pray for them.”
2) St. Paul seems to have shared this traditional Jewish belief. At the death of his supporter Onesiphorus, he prayed: “May the Lord grant him mercy on that Day” (II Tim: 1:18). Other pertinent Bible texts: Mt 12:32, I Cor 3:15, Zec13:19, Sir 7:33.
The Church’s teaching:
The Church's official teaching on Purgatory is plain and simple. There is a place or state of purification called Purgatory, where souls undergoing purification can be helped by the prayers of the faithful (Council of Trent). Some modern theologians suggest that the fire of Purgatory is an intense, transforming encounter with Jesus Christ and his fire of love. They also speak of Purgatory as an "instant” purification immediately after death, varying in intensity from soul to soul, depending on the state of each individual.
How do we help the “holy souls”?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church recommends prayer for the dead in conjunction with the offering of the Eucharistic Sacrifice, and encourages "almsgiving, indulgences, and works of penance undertaken on behalf of the dead" (CCC #1032). Let us not forget to pray for our dear departed, have Masses offered for them, visit their graves, and make daily sacrifices for them. God can foresee and apply the merits of our prayers, penances, and works of charity, done even years after their death, for our departed dear ones, in favour of our deceased dear ones, at the moment of their deaths.
////////////////////////////////////// Fr Tony's Homilies © 2025. / https://frtonyshomilies.com /
..................
No comments:
Post a Comment