Here is the text of the reflection I prepared for the funeral that we celebrated today, remembering the gift of a man who generously provided for his family and who is now praying for them - and us - in heaven.
Jesus’ disciples must have been rather perplexed by the words he was speaking on that day. Do not let your hearts be troubled ... trust in God ... and trust in me (Jn 14:1). These words echo in our ears and in our hearts as we gather here today to remember and to celebrate the life of our brother in faith. His children and his faith community have gathered this morning to pray for the repose of his eternal soul.
Almost nine decades ago, he was born in the Netherlands. Like many of his fellow countrymen, Anthony’s life was characterized by travel. We could even say that his travels from the Netherlands to Canada, his stops in the Greater Toronto Area, in Kitchener and then in Elliot Lake were an integral part of who he was. Like the disciples, Anthony travelled the roads of life, hand in hand with Jesus. In each place where he lived, he took part in the life of his local parish, learning day by day how to travel the way of the Lord.
Even after spending so much time with Jesus, after travelling the roads of Galilee with him, the disciples were still confused to hear him say: you know the way to the place where I am going (Jn 14:4). Thomas was the one who actually said: Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way (Jn 14:5). The truth is that they didn’t need to know where he was headed; all they needed to do was to trust that he would not lead them astray.
Just as children can learn to trust their fathers and to know and love them, to trust that they will know the activities that will bring their children joy, so the disciples learned to trust Jesus, and since we too have all been baptized in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:3) we can journey with him along the path of life, getting to know him better and better every day.
As he came to know Jesus more and more in prayer, Anthony too learned the truth that in baptism, we have already been plunged into Jesus’ death. This is not something that we tend to think about every day, but it is an integral part of our faith. We have been baptized into his death ... so that as Christ was raised from the dead, ... we too might live a new life (Rom 6:4).
Each day that we spend here on earth is part of our preparation for the day when we too will live this new life, a life that will know no ending, a life that will be spent for all eternity in heaven with Jesus. We get a glimpse of what that life will be like in the first reading that we heard today.
Isaiah uses the image of a mountain to explain to us that heaven will be in another place, which is unknown to us as we travel the earth. On this mountain, the Lord ... will prepare ... a banquet of rich food (Is 25:6). Our brother, who worked so tirelessly and provided so generously for his family’s needs while he was here on earth can now be assured that there is a place at that heavenly banquet for him. And even now, as we set out to continue our earthly journey, we see a glimpse of this heavenly banquet every time we gather around the table of the Eucharist.
Let us give thanks today for the gift of our brother Anthony, for the many years during which he shared his wisdom and his love with so many people, and let us rejoice with him today as he finally finds his place at the heavenly banquet table. One day, we will see him again, and with him we will be able to say: We exult and we rejoice that the Lord has saved us (Is 25:9).
Funeral homily for Anthony VanDiel
Jesus’ disciples must have been rather perplexed by the words he was speaking on that day. Do not let your hearts be troubled ... trust in God ... and trust in me (Jn 14:1). These words echo in our ears and in our hearts as we gather here today to remember and to celebrate the life of our brother in faith. His children and his faith community have gathered this morning to pray for the repose of his eternal soul.
Almost nine decades ago, he was born in the Netherlands. Like many of his fellow countrymen, Anthony’s life was characterized by travel. We could even say that his travels from the Netherlands to Canada, his stops in the Greater Toronto Area, in Kitchener and then in Elliot Lake were an integral part of who he was. Like the disciples, Anthony travelled the roads of life, hand in hand with Jesus. In each place where he lived, he took part in the life of his local parish, learning day by day how to travel the way of the Lord.
Even after spending so much time with Jesus, after travelling the roads of Galilee with him, the disciples were still confused to hear him say: you know the way to the place where I am going (Jn 14:4). Thomas was the one who actually said: Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way (Jn 14:5). The truth is that they didn’t need to know where he was headed; all they needed to do was to trust that he would not lead them astray.
Just as children can learn to trust their fathers and to know and love them, to trust that they will know the activities that will bring their children joy, so the disciples learned to trust Jesus, and since we too have all been baptized in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:3) we can journey with him along the path of life, getting to know him better and better every day.
As he came to know Jesus more and more in prayer, Anthony too learned the truth that in baptism, we have already been plunged into Jesus’ death. This is not something that we tend to think about every day, but it is an integral part of our faith. We have been baptized into his death ... so that as Christ was raised from the dead, ... we too might live a new life (Rom 6:4).
Each day that we spend here on earth is part of our preparation for the day when we too will live this new life, a life that will know no ending, a life that will be spent for all eternity in heaven with Jesus. We get a glimpse of what that life will be like in the first reading that we heard today.
Isaiah uses the image of a mountain to explain to us that heaven will be in another place, which is unknown to us as we travel the earth. On this mountain, the Lord ... will prepare ... a banquet of rich food (Is 25:6). Our brother, who worked so tirelessly and provided so generously for his family’s needs while he was here on earth can now be assured that there is a place at that heavenly banquet for him. And even now, as we set out to continue our earthly journey, we see a glimpse of this heavenly banquet every time we gather around the table of the Eucharist.
Let us give thanks today for the gift of our brother Anthony, for the many years during which he shared his wisdom and his love with so many people, and let us rejoice with him today as he finally finds his place at the heavenly banquet table. One day, we will see him again, and with him we will be able to say: We exult and we rejoice that the Lord has saved us (Is 25:9).
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