When the lion sleeps

On Wednesday of this week, the world learned that Senator Theodore Kennedy, the patriarch of the famous American family, had finally ended his earthly journey. The days that have followed have seen thousands of people, rich and poor, take their moments, some short and some not so short, to say goodbye.

After days of public viewing, and nights of tributes and speeches from Senate collegues, and family members alike, the Mass of Christian Burial is finally coming to a close as these words of reflection are being written.

It's not often that someone's funeral is broadcast for the entire nation to see, or that so many people are invited, from near or far, to be present in body and spirit for the liturgical action of commending a loved one to the mercy of God. But then again, it's not often these days that we have such a public figure who lives so committedly, and for so long, the values and virtues of love, compassion and faith as Ted Kennedy has done, in such a public way, for the past five decades or so.

As so many have said today, and in days leading to this moment, behind the public figure, known to some as the lion of the US Senate, and to others as 'le grand fromage', there was always the private person who sought only to be of service to his fellow citizens, to live out the values of the gospel, to comfort those who mourn, to find justice for those who had been wronged and to celebrate joyfully the happy moments of life, while acknowledging the truth of bitter moments as well, always with the assurance of faith to guide and comfort.

This is the life that we are all called to live. From the moment of our birth in this world, from the day of our baptism, the spiritual birth that begins our life of faith, whether for a few years, decades or more, we can only strive to live justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God (cf Micah 6:4).

This is what Ted Kennedy did, this is what all disciples do, this is the way that we win our heaven, so that when at last we sleep in peace and rest from our labours, there is a place that awaits us in the Father's house, and the angels will take us to paradise.