Welcome to Brothers and Sisters, the weekly meetup for prayer* and community at Daily Kos. We put an asterisk on pray* to acknowledge that not everyone uses conventional religious language, but may want to share joys and concerns, or simply take solace in a meditative atmosphere. Anyone who comes in the spirit of mutual respect, warmth and healing is welcome."
As we are all aware, today is Veterans Day - a day to remember those who have served in uniform and have since retired from the Armed Service. In addition to remembering our veterans (living and deceased), this time of year is also appropriate to remember those loved ones who have passed away (veteran or otherwise).
November 1 was All Saints Day in the Catholic Church, while November 2 was All Souls Day. On those days, in particular, we remember those who have gone before us - but parishes throughout the Church also take the entire month to remember the departed.
A few months ago, my grandmother passed away. Her faith was very important to her, as it is to the entire family. Of importance to us is the Church's rarely-mentioned-by-conservatives commitment to social justice - a commitment which is expressed so well in today's Gospel reading (Mark 12:38-44):
In the course of his teaching Jesus said to the crowds,
"Beware of the scribes, who like to go around in long robes
and accept greetings in the marketplaces,
seats of honor in synagogues,
and places of honor at banquets.
They devour the houses of widows and, as a pretext
recite lengthy prayers.
They will receive a very severe condemnation."
He sat down opposite the treasury
and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury.
Many rich people put in large sums.
A poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents.
Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them,
"Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more
than all the other contributors to the treasury.
For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth,
but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had,
her whole livelihood."
May the poor and broken have a helping hand, may our departed loved ones rest in peace, and may God bless our President.