Time to Remember

The month of November is known as the "Month of All Souls." We marked the commemoration of All Souls this past November 2, but we have an entire month to remember the faithful departed and to offer our prayers for them. This time is also a reminder for ourselves who are living because we know how quickly time passes by and that means our lives as well. On a personal note, I know how that feels because this past June I had gone out for a short bike ride and ended up blacking out just two miles into the ride. There was no pain, no warning, it just hit all at once. I had all the medical tests run on me that they could and everything came back normal. To me, I know it was a God-event. God had a message for me and I received it in a big way. As one article pointed out recently, sometimes God gives us a tap or a shove to show how much He loves us. I can honestly say that I got the shove and God's point is well taken. This incident does show how quickly our lives can end and the main question to ask ourselves is, Are we ready? That is the point of our readings for this first weekend in November. Saint Paul's letter to the Thessalonians, 4:13-18, says that we need to have hope. Even though we may grieve for a loved one who has passed on, we live in hope because we know death is not the end, but the beginning. Paul encourages us, "Therefore, console one another with these words." The words of faith and hope will sustain us. In Matthew's Gospel, 25:1-13, Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins- 5 were wise and 5 were foolish. When the bridegroom came, the foolish ones were not ready, while the wise were ready and went into the feast. That is the message for us: live in faith and hope and always be ready because Jesus says, "Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour." May this time of remembrance be beneficial for us because the time to be ready is now! Have a blessed weekend!!!