November, a month to thank and appreciate the dear departed

Sombre November rolls along with its inclement weather, louring clouds and pervading gloom, reminding us that the month dedicated to the dead will be heralded by the day set apart in the Liturgical Calendar to honour our dear departed -the 2nd of November “Malawunge Avuruddha”.
 Despite the prevailing weather, the day somehow normally dawns bright and clear, enabling the faithful to participate in the celebration of the Holy Mass (which in most instances is at the cemetery) like the darkness of death being overpowered by the Resurrection. 
“Death where is thy sting? Death where is thy victory?”
It’s a day of thanksgiving and appreciation of our loved ones gone before -spouses, parents, grandparents, offspring, relatives, friends, benefactors, even acquaintances, who have crossed our 
paths in this sojourn of life and have contributed in great ways and small, to ease our journey, 
to travel lighter. To these kind souls we owe a debt of gratitude which can be repaid now only through prayer, almsgiving and sacrifice on their behalf; that they be purified and attain eternal glory in the portals of the lord, alleviating their suffering and languishing in purgatory. 

Veritable fairy-land
The cleared up cemeteries, the flower-strewn graves and mounds, the garlanded monuments, 
the profusion of flowers and lighted candles transform the cemetery into a veritable fairy-land. A gesture of honour, respect, love and appreciation, The prayerful, reverential, postures of the 
faithful at the grave-sides bowed in prayer -a sigh! A tear-; active participation at the mass, the 
flocking to Holy Communion; the visits to the grave-sides throughout the day. Offering masses 
for the souls throughout the month display a caring attitude towards the loved ones in death.
But what of the caring attitude in life? 
Won’t it be better to care for people in life? 
Make their life a little more liveable, rather than ostentatious mourning for them in death. 
Innumerable instances of insensitivity and negligence towards elders, squabbles over the caring of elders are rampant in the society. Lonely individuals with no hope of relief. Elders being killed for any meagre possessions they may possess. Elders relegated to Elders’ Homes with hardly any visits from their near and dear whom they had dedicated their lives to. Instances of gross negligence, Some even’ being dumped in hospitals and Police Stations; sometimes even on the waysides, Families squabbling over allocations of property, wealth, whatever possessions, among 
the affluent, the not so affluent and those who simply don’t have the means to sustain and 
maintain the elderly and the afflicted. Isn’t it better to treat these elders even in a frugal 
manner within one’s means during their life - time rather than award them an ostentatious 
funeral with pomp and pageantry as is often spoken of by priests in the All Souls Day homily.