Fr. Michael writes: The earliest surviving Christian document – older even than the Gospels – is St. Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians, our second reading at Mass today. Written just 15 years after Jesus’ time on earth, we see that its central message is all about His Resurrection. Paul consoles the early Christians: they too can hope for their share in the Resurrection. Those who have died in Christ will come to God together with Him. We too are called to comfort each other with this central belief of our faith. And at the beginning of this month of November, we are also comforted by the thought that the saints in heaven are praying for us, just as we pray for the souls in purgatory. In Christ we remain united in faith and love.32nd Sunday of the Year