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God our loving and merciful Father in heaven, as we commemorate today all the faithful departed on this All Souls' Day, my thoughts are still with this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic:
Of how I lament the way authorities continue to insist religious gatherings as non-essential that despite the many deaths since last year due to this pandemic, our people are still denied of the chance to pay respects to their departed loved ones in the cemeteries when malls, restaurants, and public places like tourist destinations are opened and allowed to operate to revive the economy.
How sad, dear God, it is still the money and the economy that matter for them than the soul and spiritual needs of people.
But I am also thankful, Father for the valuable lessons this pandemic has taught us most especially the value of every person seen in the beauty of "face-to-face" or F2F encounters we all so desire these days; due to the pandemic, we have realized nothing beats face-to-face meetings, personal and actual relationships despite the conveniences of online classes and work from home set ups or any of those internet transactions.
How funny, dear God, now we realize "life is F2F", face-to-face both here on earth and in heaven, your best gift to us to be present and actual with you and with one another!
And so, through the assuring words of your Son Jesus Christ to "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places" (Jn.14:1), we pray for the souls of our departed loved ones to finally have that grace of seeing you, merciful God and Father, face-to-face in your eternal glory in heaven, and not that soon, we too may join them in that ultimate F2F, praising you, thanking you for making us worthy in Jesus Christ.
And while still here on earth as we approach the end of 2021, we pray most earnestly to you, O God, that slowly we may have the grace and joy of experiencing anew one another face-to-face, celebrating life more meaningfully as we continue to learn the harsh lessons of COVID-19. Amen.
