Dia de los Muertos & God's Love for My Soul

Today is known as All Souls Day. It is a Roman Catholic holiday observed to remember loved ones and the faithfully departed and celebrated after All Hallows Eve and All Saints Day. The 3-day span of holy days is known as Dia de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead in Latin American culture. The festivities and Masses performed today represent a living memorial and prayer for those in purgatory. In Catholic theology, purgatory is where the souls of the dead are purified before their entrance into heaven. Dia de los Muertos is actually the celebration of eternal life. Interestingly, shrines or altars, known as ofrendas, are constructed and vigils held to honor deceased loves ones.

Meager Historical Note

Some trace the roots of this event back to a month-long Aztec festival honoring Mictecacihuatl, the goddess of the underworld. Besides overseeing festivals for the dead, Mictecacihuatl carefully guarded their bones. Her husband, Mictlantecuhtli, was the actual ruler of the underworld called Mictlan. For those who were not good enough to gain admission to paradise, a four-year journey through 9 levels of hell was necessary to meet Mictlantecuhtli. Some still believe this legend to be inspiration for 14th century Italian poet Dante Alighieri's 9-circled hell Dante's Divine Comedy. Likely, Dante referenced Aristotle's 9 heavenly spheres. For it was Spanish Conquistador Hernán Cortés who first brought Catholicism to the Valley Mexico via friar Bartolome de Olmedo and a priest Juan Diaz. Cortez wasn't born until 1495; a tad later than Dante and way later than the Aztec legend. So the connection between Dia de los Muertos and the Catholic All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day is a merging of European-Christian culture and the inhabitants of the Valley of Mexico.

Anyway, the Point of the Post

It is not historical or theological, though one must investigate the claims of a Catholic purgatory and a literal Protestant reading of the Luke 16 rich man and Lazarus story.

It is not to argue for or against celebrating Dia de los Muertos culturally or religiously.

Contemplating All Souls Day, I mainly thought about souls and how God wants to save them. God desires for all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim 2:3-4). God is identified as "our Savior" in that text. God desires All Souls saved!

Soul is psuche in the Greek. And in Matthew 16:25 psuche is translated into English as "life". "Whoever wants to save his life [psuche] will lose it, but whoever loses his life [psuche] for me will find it."

So God desires to save my life (soul). The question then becomes: Do I desire to save my life (soul)? I know that I cannot save myself by working my way to heaven. But do I have the desire of a disciple and seeker to surrender my life (soul) completely to Him?

God is seeking seekers - Ps 14:2

We must desire to seek His face - Ps 27:8

Seek and you will find - Mt 7:7

He's not far from any - Acts 17:27

If we search with all our hearts, then we will find Him - Jer 29:13

Seek first His kingdom and righteousness - Mt 6:33

Seeking Him brings understanding - Prob 28:5

Even though All Souls Day focuses on the departed, remember to take care of your soul today. Ask yourself: Have I a seekers heart? Is my search for God legit?

And on a lighter note concerning All Souls Day: