Today, the Church celebrates All Souls Day to commemorate the faithful departed. It is also an occasion to remind ourselves that death is not the end but a stage to pass through to reach our true home in heaven. Here, we will be in the presence of the Holy Trinity, Mary, and the angels and saints. The image of the great banquet on Mt. Zion put forward by Isaiah gives the impression that being in the presence of God is like being at a banquet. It is a time of joy and happiness, where death has no place.

Meanwhile, we have to strive here on earth. Paul says that because of our faith in Jesus, we can experience new life with God even now. There is a sense of relief, peace and confidence that comes from the risen life of Christ himself. This is why Paul is hopeful, even in the face of challenges and afflictions that we encounter following Jesus. Through the redemption of Christ, we can face even death with hope and a sense of openness to the future.

Jesus exemplifies this sense of hope on the cross as he cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" This was not a cry of desperation at being abandoned by the Father. Instead, we recognise in Jesus' last few moments the ultimate act of self-giving and trust in the Father. Jesus believed that the Father would hear him and give him life. We believe that this is true not only for Jesus but for all who follows in his steps.