Here is the text of the homily I spoke at the funeral Mass we celebrated today for a woman who was small in stature but had an immense heart filled with love.
Our dear sister Jeanne has completed her earthly journey, and we have gathered here this morning to give thanks to God for the many years He granted us to spend on this earth with her. We thank Him too for the lessons we have learned; even those of us who knew her for a relatively short amount of years are better people for having had the opportunity to witness God’s love in action through her example of virtue, belief and trust.
The Book of Wisdom tells us that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, and no torment shall ever touch them. Those who have known Jeanne in this life will testify to the fact that she was a woman of her word, and that she used her words, as well as her hands to help in any way she could. Her body was small but her heart was filled with love, and with the knowledge that she herself was and is deeply loved. That knowledge certainty allowed her to freely give of herself, and we are all the benefactors of her generosity. Yesterday afternoon, while you were gathered at the funeral home, you shared many of your memories about Jeanne. Even from those who could not be physically present with us here today, I have received glowing reports about her interior beauty. For much of the time while they lived in the house across the parking lot, Gerry and Jeanne were the on-site custodians, the just-in-case people who could always be counted upon to open the doors of the church (or to lock them as the case may be). Jeanne cared for the floral arrangements here in the church, and actively participated as a lector. I’m told that she also had a long and well-respected career with the CWL, and that she was a pretty good cook too. All of this she did with grace and faith, and for that reason we are here today, confident that even if in her latter years, she experienced punishment as people see it, her hope was rich with immortality. May she now enjoy the reward of her hope.
We mortals stand at the threshold of heaven and commend her into the loving arms of our God. We can do this because we are people who believe in the promise of a loving God. Our faith assures us that our true homeland is in heaven. I’m told that when they knew that they had to move out of the rectory across the parking lot, Gerry made sure to do all the research and to choose their next place of residence. I’m almost certain that this was part of his character too: to take care of the details so that all the t’s were crossed before a move could be made. No doubt he’s been at work in heaven too, preparing the way. When all was prepared, he came to take her Home, and one day we too will join them, when our place is prepared.
In the meanwhile, let us not forget them. Let us endeavour to model our lives after the example we have witnessed in the lives they lived. Let us never stop being curious about life. Let us always focus on the blessings that are offered to us: the people who accompany us, and the opportunities that are afforded us to be instruments of service and love. Let us never be afraid to live life to the fullest, to grasp every opportunity to share the good news of our faith with others, and to nourish them with the compassion and love we ourselves have received. If at any time, the road ahead should seem daunting, listen for the voice of Jesus who whispers to us even in times of greatest challenge: come to me, all you who labour and are over burdened, and I will give you rest. May our loving Saviour welcome our sister Jeanne, who always trusted in him, into his embrace. In this life, she was gentle and humble in heart; may she now find eternal rest for her soul.
Funeral homily for Jeanne d’Arc Leblanc
Our dear sister Jeanne has completed her earthly journey, and we have gathered here this morning to give thanks to God for the many years He granted us to spend on this earth with her. We thank Him too for the lessons we have learned; even those of us who knew her for a relatively short amount of years are better people for having had the opportunity to witness God’s love in action through her example of virtue, belief and trust.
The Book of Wisdom tells us that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, and no torment shall ever touch them. Those who have known Jeanne in this life will testify to the fact that she was a woman of her word, and that she used her words, as well as her hands to help in any way she could. Her body was small but her heart was filled with love, and with the knowledge that she herself was and is deeply loved. That knowledge certainty allowed her to freely give of herself, and we are all the benefactors of her generosity. Yesterday afternoon, while you were gathered at the funeral home, you shared many of your memories about Jeanne. Even from those who could not be physically present with us here today, I have received glowing reports about her interior beauty. For much of the time while they lived in the house across the parking lot, Gerry and Jeanne were the on-site custodians, the just-in-case people who could always be counted upon to open the doors of the church (or to lock them as the case may be). Jeanne cared for the floral arrangements here in the church, and actively participated as a lector. I’m told that she also had a long and well-respected career with the CWL, and that she was a pretty good cook too. All of this she did with grace and faith, and for that reason we are here today, confident that even if in her latter years, she experienced punishment as people see it, her hope was rich with immortality. May she now enjoy the reward of her hope.
We mortals stand at the threshold of heaven and commend her into the loving arms of our God. We can do this because we are people who believe in the promise of a loving God. Our faith assures us that our true homeland is in heaven. I’m told that when they knew that they had to move out of the rectory across the parking lot, Gerry made sure to do all the research and to choose their next place of residence. I’m almost certain that this was part of his character too: to take care of the details so that all the t’s were crossed before a move could be made. No doubt he’s been at work in heaven too, preparing the way. When all was prepared, he came to take her Home, and one day we too will join them, when our place is prepared.
In the meanwhile, let us not forget them. Let us endeavour to model our lives after the example we have witnessed in the lives they lived. Let us never stop being curious about life. Let us always focus on the blessings that are offered to us: the people who accompany us, and the opportunities that are afforded us to be instruments of service and love. Let us never be afraid to live life to the fullest, to grasp every opportunity to share the good news of our faith with others, and to nourish them with the compassion and love we ourselves have received. If at any time, the road ahead should seem daunting, listen for the voice of Jesus who whispers to us even in times of greatest challenge: come to me, all you who labour and are over burdened, and I will give you rest. May our loving Saviour welcome our sister Jeanne, who always trusted in him, into his embrace. In this life, she was gentle and humble in heart; may she now find eternal rest for her soul.
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