Baptised into his death

Almost one year ago, a former Canadian Air Force pilot died suddenly in Panama.  Today, his family finally gathered to pray him into eternity.

Funeral homily for Gary Laferière

This year, Thanksgiving weekend is being celebrated in a very significant way.  This morning, we have gathered to give thanks to God for the life that Gary lived here on earth, and tomorrow, you will celebrate the baptism of the youngest member of your family.

These two gatherings are therefore part of one celebration, because all of us who were baptized into Christ, were baptized into his death (Rom 6:3).  From the moment when Gary himself was baptized, he entered into Christ’s tomb.  This was not something that we could see with human eyes, but rather a reality that could only be seen by faith.  The truth is that from that day onward, Gary was invited to walk in faith with our God, and just as Christ was once raised from the dead, so too, Gary and all of us who have been baptized walk in a newness of life (Rom 6:4).

The life of grace that we receive at baptism is a gift from the loving heart of our God.  This gift washes us clean of sin – symbolized by the white garment that is worn by the one who is baptized – and is continually fed by the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation which strengthens us in our faith and makes it possible for us to share our talents and gifts with others whose lives intersect with ours. 

It is indeed a gift to be made aware that each one of us is a precious child of God, that the members of our earthly families have been placed in our lives to share our journey of faith and to help us discover the invaluable truth that we are unique, unrepeatable and infinitely loved by our Heavenly Father.  He created us and he is longing for the day when we will be one with him in heaven.

Today, we have come to give thanks for the years that we have spent with Gary, for the many blessings that the Lord bestowed upon him in this life.  Unbelieving eyes will say that he has now died, but while his human body is no longer alive, his hope was full of immortality (Wis 3:4).  Gary knew the great gift that had been entrusted to him on the day of his baptism, and he also knew that one day he would live with God in heaven (cf Wis 3:9) just as we all will when our earthly lives are done and we are called Home.

As we look forward to that day, Jesus urges us to be dressed for action and to have our lamps lit (Lk 12:35).  The faith that we have received is not a gift that can be hidden on a shelf like a trophy.  We need to live our faith.  We need to constantly be ready to share the joy of our faith with others.  When we experience moments of celebration, like the baptism of a child, our joy is radiant; when we receive the gift of the Eucharist, we are thankful for the nourishment it brings; when we celebrate Reconciliation, we rejoice in the knowledge that our sins are forgiven; and when Jesus, the Master, finds us alert in our faith (cf Lk 12:37), living our faith, he will fasten his belt and sit us down at table.  He himself will be happy to serve us as we sit at the heavenly banquet table.

Let us give thanks today for the life that Gary lived, for the many ways he put his faith into action, and let us rejoice on his behalf as he who once served willingly and generously now enjoys the place at the Lord’s table that has been reserved for him from the day of his baptism.