Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for the funeral liturgy we celebrated today. Our brother has left his mark on so many people, and now he rejoices in the House of the Father.
Chers amis, nous sommes rassemblés afin de prier pour notre frère Arthur. Lui qui a connu le Seigneur tout au long de son parcours sur cette terre, le rencontre aujourd`hui en plénitude; nous sommes invités à rendre grâce au Seigneurpour toute la bonté et toute la beauté que nous avons vécues avec notre frère au cours de son existence terrestre.
Dear friends, we have gathered here to pray for our brother Arthur. He who has known the Lord throughout the years he has lived on this earth meets him today in all his fullness. Today, we give thanks to the Lord for all the goodness and all the beauty that we have experienced with our brother during his life here on this earth.
The Lord Jesus is present at all moments of our lives. When we gather to pray with a brother or sister who has completed his or her journey through earthly life, and with the members of his or her family who are mourning, the Lord is present. He comforts us, he consoles us and he reassures us.
The gospel passage we have just heard shows us that while he was on earth, Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples and for those who were close to him: Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am (Jn 17:24). Jesus knew that he was going back to the Father, that he was going to heaven, and he wanted to be sure that those he had loved here on earth would be one with him in the Father`s house. Because God always listens to our prayers, we can be sure that this prayer too has been answered. This is the reward that is offered to all those who have lived lives of faith. This is the reward that is given to Arthur today: he is now with Jesus in heaven, and this is the reward that awaits all of us when we too will have completed the years of our lives here on earth.
We can rely on the fact that Jesus prayer has been answered because he himself was raised from the dead and sits now at the right hand of our Father. Our faith tells us that this is true. Our faith also teaches us that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we entered into his death … so that as Christ was raised … by the Father`s glory, we too will live a new life in heaven with him (cf Rm 6:3-4). In this life, Arthur brought joy to the hearts of his family and friends, and to all those who still enjoy the fruit of his work here in this city. Many of the structures he built are still standing, places of residence where laughter is heard, where the warmth of loving families welcome friends and where words of encouragement and faith are uttered. Arthur was also involved for many years in the North Bay Golf and Country Club. Many of those who have had a part to play in that club have had the pleasure of knowing him, of sharing their leisure time with him and of experiencing his living faith in the many conversations that took place there.
Cette journée nous offre une occasion de fête. Lorsque notre liturgie sera terminée, nous aurons l’occasion de nous rencontrer au Club où notre ami Arthur a connu beaucoup de plaisir; mais tout d’abord, nous voici rassemblés autour d’une autre table, celle où nous partageons le repas du Seigneur. Ce repas, avec le pain de la vie et la coupe du salut , nous est donné en guise de préparation pour le jour où nous nous retrouverons autour de la table céleste. Il y auraalors un autre banquet, un festin de mets succulents … de vins vieux et décantés, que décrit le prophète Isaïe (25:6).
This is a day of celebration. When this liturgy is complete, we will have an occasion to gather at the Club where Arthur spent many happy hours; but first, we are assembled here around this table, where we share the Lord's supper. This meal, composed of the bread of life and the cup of salvation, is a preparation for the day when we will be gathered around the table of the heavenly banquet. The heavenly banquet awaits us, a feast of succulent food and aged wines, strained clear (Is 25:6).
The banquet described by the Prophet Isaiah will truly be a time of celebration. On that day, the Lord God will … wipe away the tears from every cheek (Is 25:8) and we will be filled with the eternal joy of knowing that we are reunited with our brother Arthur in a place where there will be no more suffering and no more pain. Together we will only know the joy of being in one another’s presence.
While we wait for that day, we continue to celebrate in anticipation of that day. Jesus continues to call to us from his place in heaven, assuring us that the banquet is prepared, that a place at the table awaits us. This reassurance fills us with hope and with joy. This promise is something to look forward to so let’s go out into the world to share this good news with everyone we meet: this is our God in whom we have hoped for salvation … we exult and we rejoice that he has saved us (Is 25:9).
Funeral homily for Arthur Lalonde
Chers amis, nous sommes rassemblés afin de prier pour notre frère Arthur. Lui qui a connu le Seigneur tout au long de son parcours sur cette terre, le rencontre aujourd`hui en plénitude; nous sommes invités à rendre grâce au Seigneurpour toute la bonté et toute la beauté que nous avons vécues avec notre frère au cours de son existence terrestre.
Dear friends, we have gathered here to pray for our brother Arthur. He who has known the Lord throughout the years he has lived on this earth meets him today in all his fullness. Today, we give thanks to the Lord for all the goodness and all the beauty that we have experienced with our brother during his life here on this earth.
The Lord Jesus is present at all moments of our lives. When we gather to pray with a brother or sister who has completed his or her journey through earthly life, and with the members of his or her family who are mourning, the Lord is present. He comforts us, he consoles us and he reassures us.
The gospel passage we have just heard shows us that while he was on earth, Jesus prayed to the Father for his disciples and for those who were close to him: Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am (Jn 17:24). Jesus knew that he was going back to the Father, that he was going to heaven, and he wanted to be sure that those he had loved here on earth would be one with him in the Father`s house. Because God always listens to our prayers, we can be sure that this prayer too has been answered. This is the reward that is offered to all those who have lived lives of faith. This is the reward that is given to Arthur today: he is now with Jesus in heaven, and this is the reward that awaits all of us when we too will have completed the years of our lives here on earth.
We can rely on the fact that Jesus prayer has been answered because he himself was raised from the dead and sits now at the right hand of our Father. Our faith tells us that this is true. Our faith also teaches us that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we entered into his death … so that as Christ was raised … by the Father`s glory, we too will live a new life in heaven with him (cf Rm 6:3-4). In this life, Arthur brought joy to the hearts of his family and friends, and to all those who still enjoy the fruit of his work here in this city. Many of the structures he built are still standing, places of residence where laughter is heard, where the warmth of loving families welcome friends and where words of encouragement and faith are uttered. Arthur was also involved for many years in the North Bay Golf and Country Club. Many of those who have had a part to play in that club have had the pleasure of knowing him, of sharing their leisure time with him and of experiencing his living faith in the many conversations that took place there.
Cette journée nous offre une occasion de fête. Lorsque notre liturgie sera terminée, nous aurons l’occasion de nous rencontrer au Club où notre ami Arthur a connu beaucoup de plaisir; mais tout d’abord, nous voici rassemblés autour d’une autre table, celle où nous partageons le repas du Seigneur. Ce repas, avec le pain de la vie et la coupe du salut , nous est donné en guise de préparation pour le jour où nous nous retrouverons autour de la table céleste. Il y auraalors un autre banquet, un festin de mets succulents … de vins vieux et décantés, que décrit le prophète Isaïe (25:6).
This is a day of celebration. When this liturgy is complete, we will have an occasion to gather at the Club where Arthur spent many happy hours; but first, we are assembled here around this table, where we share the Lord's supper. This meal, composed of the bread of life and the cup of salvation, is a preparation for the day when we will be gathered around the table of the heavenly banquet. The heavenly banquet awaits us, a feast of succulent food and aged wines, strained clear (Is 25:6).
The banquet described by the Prophet Isaiah will truly be a time of celebration. On that day, the Lord God will … wipe away the tears from every cheek (Is 25:8) and we will be filled with the eternal joy of knowing that we are reunited with our brother Arthur in a place where there will be no more suffering and no more pain. Together we will only know the joy of being in one another’s presence.
While we wait for that day, we continue to celebrate in anticipation of that day. Jesus continues to call to us from his place in heaven, assuring us that the banquet is prepared, that a place at the table awaits us. This reassurance fills us with hope and with joy. This promise is something to look forward to so let’s go out into the world to share this good news with everyone we meet: this is our God in whom we have hoped for salvation … we exult and we rejoice that he has saved us (Is 25:9).
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