This past week we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints and observed the Commemoration of the Faithful Departed. These days reminded us of the totality of the Church made up of the Church Triumphant (those now in Heaven), the Church Purgative (those now in Purgatory), and the Church Militant (those now here on earth).
We should all strive to be saints just like those now in Heaven. This means that we take upon ourself the mission to pursue holiness in our everyday life. The many saints of God show us that this is possible in so far as we are willing to live for the Lord. Through entering into the sacramental life of the Church we are given the grace needed to pursue this path.
In passing from this life to that which is to come we cannot forget that the life that we have lived on this earth matters. Some proclaim with confidence at every single funeral that they are now in Heaven. How do we know this to be true? How do we know this to be true of ourself if we are not willing to live for the Lord by separating ourself from a life of sin?
As was stated in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.” This precisely what is being mentioned in today’s Gospel through the separating of the cockle from the wheat. The cockle must be cast out because it is not good for human consumption and so those who want nothing to do with the Lord must be cast out.
As was said in the Gospel of Saint Matthew, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive our demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?” So too it is with those who want to hide behind their list of outward deeds without allowing their inside that is seen by no one to be purified.
When we die we will be judged and thus sorted like the cockle from the wheat. Some to Heaven and others to hell. Notice that Purgatory is not on this list. Purgatory is not the place of second chances, but is where one who has already been judged as worthy of Heaven goes to be purified of temporal punishment. We must remember to pray for the souls in Purgatory instead of failing to pray for them.
As we come to the conclusion of this liturgical year we should continue to prepare ourself for that which is most important in our life, our salvation. Let us choose to strive to be saints by coming to embrace holiness in our everyday life. We can only embrace holiness if we are willing to let go of sin and embrace the Lord. Let us to such as those saints of God who have now gone before us into Paradise.
All you saints of God, pray for us.
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