Reflections |

Homily given by Fr Francisco Nahoe, OFM Conv on November 16, 2019 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, CA.

YOU AND I ARE HERE TODAY because we hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. We also believe this central and immutable doctrine of the Catholic faith not simply because we have recited it many times in the Creed at Mass or in our personal prayer, but first and foremost because supernatural grace has infused this hope into our hearts. Let me pause for moment here. You believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come because Almighty God has placed that hope into your heart. For, whatever my natural capacity for reason and faith may be, baptism and the Holy Spirit confer upon me something infinitely greater, namely, the knowledge that the Lord Jesus Himself has of the His Father’s love and mercy, a knowledge which is embodied in the teachings of the Catholic Church and now infused by grace into the hearts of believers.

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Dear Friends,

The Catholic Church is well known for its use of blessed, lighted candles, which are a traditional symbol that represents Jesus, the light of the world, a light shining in the darkness. You may recall that Christmas is celebrated at the darkest time of the year to symbolically show the contrast between spiritual light and dark: the light that Christ brings to the world and to souls opposes and triumphs over the darkness brought by Satan. The Church has traditionally used beeswax candles to further symbolize purity, authenticity, and industry as reflected in the work of virgin bees. In addition, to give light the candle is burned, it is sacrificed, as a reminder in our worship that Jesus Christ saved us by His Sacrifice on the Cross, the Supreme Sacrifice of Love. To know true love we too must take up the cross and lay down our lives in love of God and neighbor.

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