The Dead Shall be Raised

​A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, November 2nd, 2025:
​The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls)

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Luke
7.11-17

Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. As he approached the gate of the town, a man who had died was being carried out. He was his mother’s only son, and she was a widow; and with her was a large crowd from the town. When the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep.”

Then he came forward and touched the pallet, and the bearers stood still. And Jesus said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great Prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favourably on his people!” This word about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding country.

​​Pause. Pray. Reflect.

This week’s Gospel isn’t the only one in the Gospels that has a resurrection story. Besides the very obvious resurrection of Christ at Easter, there’s also the resurrection of Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus. 
 
For each of these people – a young man, an older man, and a young girl – their story starts, but does not end, with physical death. Their families wept. The very fabric of their lives was torn, leaving them to mourn for what was lost.
 
And yet – that wasn’t the end of the story. The death that had seized the body of their loved ones was undone. Their bodies welcomed back their souls to continue their earthly journey.
 
Each of these stories revolve around one critical truth – physical death is not the end. It is an event along the timeline of our lives, but not the final event. For those of us left behind, there can indeed be a sense of finality in physical death. I won’t ever hug my mother again in this life. My youngest two children won’t get to know her. My older children won’t get to build on the paucity of memories they have.
 
And yet, when we go to Church, we take time to light a candle and pray for the repose of the soul. We pray for her wherever she is on her journey to Heaven and ask for her to pray for us. 
 
While I can’t call her up (even though my brain sometimes tricks me into thinking I can!) or share the present joy of this life with her, I know her soul did not die when her body did. I know in faith that her soul lives on, waiting for me somewhere along the road to Heaven. 
 
We declare every weekend in the Creed that we believe in the resurrection of the dead. For those of us who have lost dear loved ones, this line is a great invitation and also a consolation. We ourselves hope for our own resurrection some day, but can also cling to Christ’s promise that all who believe in Him will be raised up on the last day.
 
And on that day, our bodies – no longer subject to death – and our souls will be reunited, just like today’s Gospel. On that day, I’ll introduce my mother to all the sweet children who have prayed for her and make up for all those lost hugs, laughter, and joy in Christ. 
 
Yes indeed, the dead shall be raised! Just like the families of those resurrected in the Gospels experienced relief for their mourning and joy beyond expectation, so on our first day in Heaven will we join all the souls of the faithful departed in the endless song of praise.




Stéphanie Potter