Death is not the final victor because love is eternal

On more than one occasion in the past few years, I have shared that the season of fall is my favorite season of the year. November is upon us again, and it is the month which I believe best expresses all the many opportunities that the fall presents to us. Two of these things are remembering to pray for the dead, as the beginning of November invites us, and approaching God with thankful hearts, as the end of November calls us to do.

Perhaps one of the most noticeable things that occurs during November is that nature begins to slip deeper into its winter slumber, and many living things begin to take upon themselves the ‘death’ that is winter. Taking its cue from this ‘death’ of the world of nature that surrounds us, November in the church bears the title the “Month of the Dead.”

Ushered in by the celebrations of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, November is the month during which the church invites us to remember and to pray for all of our beloved dead. We recently celebrated All Saints’ Day, which focuses on the countless known and unknown saints who are in heaven and enjoy God’s presence. However, there are those who have died and are being purified of the last vestiges of sin before entering into heaven, and the focus of All Souls’ Day is our responsibility to pray for all of those who are in the final stage of purification before entering heaven.

The Order of Christian Funerals states, “We believe that all the ties of friendship and affection which knit us as one throughout our lives do not unravel with death” (No. 87). Therefore, during the month of November, we are all called to offer special prayers for all of our beloved dead in the final stage of purification from the imperfection of sin so that they might enter into the perfection that is heaven. Though our prayer and good works offered for them, we can hasten them on their way as they are purged to enter upon the perfection of heaven.

To pray for the dead is one aspect of our call during November. Another aspect is to pass on our wonderful memories and stories of departed family members to the generations that follow us. To pass on stories of the faith lived by those who have died is to pass on the faith that has been entrusted to us by these very same people. To pass on to future generations the memories of departed family members is to recognize that death is not the final victor because love is eternal. To pass on these stories is to give future generations the important knowledge of their family and their faith. The “Month of the Dead” invites us to begin or to continue telling these stories of departed loved ones to those who have not heard them, or to recall these stories with those who lived alongside them. To remember and to pray for the dead is a powerful thing, and in it peace, love and joy can be found.

The end of the month of November focuses our attention on our call to approach God with thankful hearts, even amidst challenges. The fourth Thursday in November is our national day of Thanksgiving to God. I remember reading somewhere that the one of the keys to being happy in life is to always be thankful. The more I thought and prayed about this, the more I realized it to be true. Those who find great joy in life, in spite of the challenging and difficult circumstances they face, are those who are nonetheless always thankful for all the many blessings God has poured into their lives.

We have faced many challenges during this year 2020. However, we must never forget that we have all received greatly from the kindness of the Lord, and for this we must always be thankful. Our national day of Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to thank God for our faith, for our family and friends, for our country, and for all the many blessings that he bestows upon us. Perhaps this year due to COVID-19, the number of people at our gathering might be fewer, but I nonetheless wish for all a joyful and Happy Thanksgiving!!!