A homily for the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed:
All Souls, November 2, 2025
Wisdom 3:1-9, Romans 5:5-11, John 6:37-40
Please forgive me if I’ve recounted this before…
When I was 12, three of my classmates’ fathers died in a fairly rapid sequence, including the dad of my best friend. Mr. M was in his mid-30s, a rugged National Guard officer, and his abrupt death seemed to come as far more of a shock than the other two. Those gents were older and ill, though all losses are sad.
The three deaths terrified me, but I wasn’t afraid that my father would be next. No: I was convinced that my time was almost up.