Here is the text that I prepared for the funeral of a woman who has lived in this community for more than forty years. Having shared much love with her family and friends, she has finally met the author of love.
This Christian community has gathered this morning to celebrate a very important moment in the life of our sister Lucille. During her 81 years, she prepared every day for this very moment: now she is standing at heaven's door. Here on earth, we are also celebrating with her, for finally she finds herself seated at the banquet table with the Lord.
Lucille arrived in Elliot Lake along with her beloved husband Donald and their family. Since 1975, they have experienced many moments of great joy as well as moments of sadness, but beneath it all, there was always great faith and belief that we are never alone as we make our way along the road of life.
Ever since the day of her baptism, the Lord has constantly travelled the road with Lucille, just as he walks side by side with all of us. At times, we do not recognize his presence because we are too caught up with our own preoccupations, but He is always there, walking beside us (cf Lk 24:13-16), speaking with us, helping us to understand, just as he did with the two disciples on the road.
If we could listen in on the conversation that took place between the risen Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, or if we were able to witness the meeting between Lucille and the Lord on the threshold of heaven, I wonder if her words would be anything like those spoken by Saint Paul to the Christians in Rome: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory yet to be revealed for us (Rom 8:18).
Perhaps we could say that during her earthly life, Lucille had a foretaste of true joy: whenever she spent time with her loved ones and with her relatives, or whenever she found herself immersed in nature. But all the experiences she encountered are nothing compared with the moment that she will experience when she meets the Lord: at that moment, she will shine, she will sparkle like fire that runs through the straw (Wisdom 2:7).
What a wonderful image of joy! And this is what awaits all of us when we come to the moment when we will see our beloved Lucille in our eternal home, in the presence of our Lord.
Homélie pour les obsèques de Lucille Roy
La communauté chrétienne se réunit ce matin pour célébrer un moment très spécial dans la vie de notre sœur Lucille. Pendant ses 81 ans, elle s'est préparée pour ce moment précis: alors qu’elle se tient aux portes du paradis. Ici sur la terre, nous aussi nous célébrons avec elle car elle se trouve enfin à la table du banquet du Seigneur.
Lucille est arrivée à Elliot Lake en compagnie de son mari bien aimé et de sa petite famille. Depuis 1975 ils ont vécu des moments de grande joie ainsi que de moments de tristesse, mais au fond, il y avait toujours une grande croyance, car nous ne sommes jamais seuls à parcourir le chemin de la vie.
Depuis le jour de son baptême, le Seigneur a constamment parcouru la route avec Lucille, tout comme il marche à côté de chacun de nous. Parfois, nous ne le reconnaissons pas parce que nous sommes pris par nos propres préoccupations, mais il est toujours là, marchant à côté de nous (cf Luc 24,13-16), parlant avec nous, nous aidant à comprendre, comme il l’a fait avec les deux disciples sur la route.
Si on pouvait entendre la conversation qui a eu lieu entre Jésus ressuscité et ces deux disciples sur la route vers Emmaüs, ou si nous étions capables de témoigner la rencontre entre Lucille et le Seigneur au seuil du paradis, je me demande si ses paroles ne seraient pas comme celles que saint Paul a adressées aux chrétiens de Rome: J’estime qu’il n’y a pas de commune mesure entre les souffrances du temps présent et la gloire que Dieu va bientôt révéler en nous (Rom 8,18).
Pendant sa vie terrestre, Lucille a eu peut-être un avant-goût du bonheur: lorsqu’elle passait du temps avec ses proches et de la parenté ou lorsqu’elle se trouvait entourée par la nature. Mes toutes ces expériences ne sont rien à comparé au moment ou elle rencontrera le Seigneur: en ce moment, elle resplendira, elle étincellera comme un feu qui court à travers la paille (Sagesse 2,7).
Quelle image de joie! Et c’est ce qui nous attend tous lorsqu’arrivera le moment ou nous reverrons notre chère Lucille dans la demeure éternelle de notre Seigneur.
Homily for the funeral of Lucille Roy
This Christian community has gathered this morning to celebrate a very important moment in the life of our sister Lucille. During her 81 years, she prepared every day for this very moment: now she is standing at heaven's door. Here on earth, we are also celebrating with her, for finally she finds herself seated at the banquet table with the Lord.
Lucille arrived in Elliot Lake along with her beloved husband Donald and their family. Since 1975, they have experienced many moments of great joy as well as moments of sadness, but beneath it all, there was always great faith and belief that we are never alone as we make our way along the road of life.
Ever since the day of her baptism, the Lord has constantly travelled the road with Lucille, just as he walks side by side with all of us. At times, we do not recognize his presence because we are too caught up with our own preoccupations, but He is always there, walking beside us (cf Lk 24:13-16), speaking with us, helping us to understand, just as he did with the two disciples on the road.
If we could listen in on the conversation that took place between the risen Jesus and the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, or if we were able to witness the meeting between Lucille and the Lord on the threshold of heaven, I wonder if her words would be anything like those spoken by Saint Paul to the Christians in Rome: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory yet to be revealed for us (Rom 8:18).
Perhaps we could say that during her earthly life, Lucille had a foretaste of true joy: whenever she spent time with her loved ones and with her relatives, or whenever she found herself immersed in nature. But all the experiences she encountered are nothing compared with the moment that she will experience when she meets the Lord: at that moment, she will shine, she will sparkle like fire that runs through the straw (Wisdom 2:7).
What a wonderful image of joy! And this is what awaits all of us when we come to the moment when we will see our beloved Lucille in our eternal home, in the presence of our Lord.
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