At the closing of the day......

The month of November begins with All Souls and All Saints. This coincides with a shortening of the day, the hours of darkness mark the rhythm of our routines. The leaves fall and it becomes colder. Everything seems to draw to a close, a visible and tangible reminder that the end of the liturgical year draws near.  The passing from this life into the next found in the Feast days that start the month initiate us into this period of closure of the liturgical year. The play of light and darkness of this period is symbolised in several feast days - St Martin, St Lucy, - and ultimately Advent. The Liturgical Calendar of the Church connects with the biblical idea of religious duties to be performed at the Temple found in the Old Testament. While the word Liturgy itself denotes especially public rather than private worship the connection between the two is a natural and necessary one in much the same way that fasting or abstinence from food aids in preparing the spirit, those private devotions that can be adopted according to the liturgical calendar help us to prepare for the specific Feast days that mark out milestones in our relationships with God. As Advent begins we light the first candle in the wreath, one for each Sunday, announcing the coming of the Light of the World amongst us. Growing up we would read a scripture passage along with lighting a candle, this point of meditation, reminding us why we were living this season.

As Catholics, we are blessed to have these tangible reminders of a higher reality, in the midst of what can often be a troubled and dark world we are reminded in the lighting of a candle that this darkness does not last forever, that Christ has triumphed and brought us new light. It is this reminder that allows to see this life for what it is, a middle time, a walk towards God during which we are in this world but not quite a part of it. Rather we, who come from God and return to God, are called to elevate our hearts and minds to that which is not of this world. The Liturgy, with it's play of light and darkness during the high points of the year remind us of this. This being a part of the light but also a part of this world is at the root of the universal Christian vocation.

Christ is the light of the world and we are called, in following Him, to be a light to the world during our own lifetimes.  In this way, death, the passing from this life into the next, brought to our minds yearly on All Souls is us entering from the darkness of this world into the light of eternal life. It reminds us that amidst the natural pain of loss there is solace and consolation. For this reason we say:

" Eternal rest grant unto them,  o Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace." 

Amen.