As we reach for heaven, let’s bring others along through prayer

November is a time of contrast: cold winds and warm fires; dark mornings and afternoon sunglasses; early evenings and candlelight; prayers for the dead and prayers for life. As a result, I confront November with mixed emotions

The month begins with a celebration of our saints: canonized men and women recognized by the Church to be in heaven. We look to them for guidance and pray for their intercession. We also ask for the intercession of “hidden” saints, or those without names on the liturgical calendar, as Emily Stimpson Chapman states. As Christians, we believe that through the grace and mercy of God, many others have likewise joined the Communion of Saints in paradise. 

In contrast to the joy and hopefulness aroused by the saints, the following day – All Souls Day –  we pray for our beloved dead. On this day, hope and faith remain present; however, our human emotions are sombre, as the memories of those who have recently passed away continue to bear death’s sting. We also remember to pray for the forgotten souls who have no one to pray for them. The sadness of being forgotten contrasted with the inspiring hope of prayer reminds me of both the temporary nature of this life and the necessity of focusing on our goal of eternity in heaven.

The Gospel for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time reminds us of this reality. In it, Matthew recounts the parable of the 10 virgins. Five were prepared to meet the bridegroom with oil already in their lamps; while those who were unprepared were so busy trying to find oil at the last minute that they missed the wedding feast. Jesus warns us that while we are called to embrace the present and savour the gifts he has given us in this life, we must never overlook the importance of being alert and prepared for eternal life. Since we “know neither the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:13), we must live our earthly lives with our sights set on heaven.

We must remain connected to the eternal through our prayers and, as mentioned above, the month of November gives us many opportunities to do just that. We must remember, though, that November is not the only time for us to pray for one another! 

When I moved away from home as a young adult, I found churches in each city I lived in and continued to attend Mass. My life has been greatly enriched by faith and by the relationships and opportunities that have resulted from trusting in God’s plan, and over the years I’ve often wondered why I continued to nurture my relationship with God when so many outside influences suggested otherwise. As I look back, the answer is simple: prayer – and not just my own prayers. 

My parents, grandparents and relatives prayed for me. In my nightstand, I even have the prayer books and note that a friend’s grandma gave me when I moved to BC. She prayed for me, too. My relationship with God is personal and unique to me, but I certainly didn’t attain it on my own!

Inspired by this knowledge, I continue to offer daily prayers of petition for my children, godchildren and the people I have sponsored in Confirmation. No matter how well I know each of these people, I will never truly know their relationships with God. I pray that if they are close to God, their relationships will continue to grow. I likewise pray that if they have drifted from their faith, that they will somehow feel God’s love and find their way back to him. 

Recently, I chatted with the mother of a person I sponsored. I was thrilled to learn that this young adult continues to plan weekend activities around Mass times and that faith remains of utmost importance. I’m sure I am not the only one praying for this young person, but the story reminds me that while I may never know the answers to most of my prayers, I must always “stay awake” and never stop praying for others, or looking to the example of the saints in heaven.

November tangibly and spiritually brings to mind the contrast of death and life. Let us never lose sight of the hope of life in heaven, and take others along with us through prayer.