Words about the Word

Today, we celebrated the Mass of the Resurrection for the newest resident of his eternal Home.  His family and friends, and colleagues of his children and grandchildren gathered at the church this morning for the celebration, and then they shared a meal together before setting out on their pilgrim way.

Homily prepared for the Mass of Resurrection

Celebrated in memory of William Davis

Dear friends, we are here in this church today to pray with and for Isabel’s beloved husband, Bill, the father of four children who he loved very deeply, the grandfather of nine grandchildren and great grandfather to six little ones who knew him best as Grandpa whiskers.  In preparation for this celebration, I met yesterday with some of the family, and they told me about the fact that Bill and Isabel lived in various places in Northern and Southern Ontario during their married life.  As the stories were recounted, I came to understand Bill as a person who knew the importance of relationships.  Some of these relationships were cultivated while he was in the working world, and others were formed and strengthened on the golf course, around the card table, over a glass or two of ‘refreshment’.  The places and circumstances where the relationships began was only the beginning.  Over time, words were spoken, stories were told and retold, relationships were established and given time and occasions to grow.

It is perhaps fitting then that we should gather here to give thanks for the gift of this man’s life.  Words were an important part of his life, so how fitting is it that he should celebrate the transition from this world to the next in the presence of the one who we refer to as the Word (with a capital W).  Jesus’ words, spoken to the disciples, speak to the hearts who grieve today.  The words of scripture speak to our souls today, encouraging us to see in this encounter the truth that the life and death of each of us has its influence on others.  Bill’s life, his love for his family, his deep caring for every visitor and guest, his concern for every customer, his compassion for those who he called friends, are all part of the legacy he leaves for us today.  Each person who experienced his care is privileged to count him or herself as a beneficiary of Bill’s generosity, just as each of us who has come to know Jesus can count ourselves as privileged to be privy to the inheritance he has left us.

Jesus and Bill both used words to tell stories, to unite people, to share their hearts, their care and their love with others.  When Jesus spoke to the crowds, telling them about the love of the Father that is reserved for all of us, he promised eternal life.  This is the gift that Jesus offers to all of us – eternal life.  This is the reason why we gather here today – to celebrate the fact that Bill is now freed from the confines of physical ailments, and free to enjoy the fullness of life in the presence of our God.  At the moment of death, he stands before the judgement seat of God, but this has never been meant to be a fearful experience, because Christ died for us, he rose again to life, and in the light of His resurrection, we all have the promise of eternal life and everlasting love.  Now, and for all eternity, Bill can hear the voice of the Son of God who is the master story teller, the voice that speaks to his eternal soul, filling it with life from the source of all life.

What then can we learn from the experience we are living today?  There is wisdom to be gleaned from the lessons Bill has taught – the wisdom that comes from a heart that always knew how to speak with people, to make room for them, to listen to their stories and to share the joys and struggles of life and faith with them.  Each of us can learn to do the same.  Even at times when all physical strength is gone, there is still reason to hope, because the true source of our strength, the true reason for our hope comes from the Lord, and God will never leave us.  He surrounds us constantly with deep, abiding, life-giving love.  He enfolds us each morning with his kindnesses, renewing his promise of never-failing faithfulness.  Even as he welcomes Bill home today, our God waits for each of us, for each of us will leave this church today, and when we do, we will continue the journey of this life, until the day that we too will stand before the judgement seat of God, to be enwrapped in his love, to know the fullness of his love, and to hear him say to us the words for which we so deeply long: whoever listens to my words, and believes in the One who sent me, has eternal life; he has passed from death to life.