The light of faith that leads us

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the funeral Mass that we celebrated today: a moment to give thanks and to be encouraged on the journey of discipleship.

Funeral homily for Florence Fournier

Today, we gather in this church to pray with Florence’s family and to commend our sister into the loving arms of the Lord.  The moment of physical separation from someone we have come to know and love is never easy, but this is also the moment when Florence completes her journey home.  This journey began many years ago when she was brought to the baptismal font and welcomed into the family of God.  In remembrance of the day of her baptism, the day when she was moved by the Spirit and became a child of God (cf Rom 8:14), we sprinkled her casket when it arrived at the doors of the church, and we placed the pall over the casket as a reminder of the garment of salvation with which she was clothed.

Close to the altar, not far from the place where the casket is now, we have also placed the large Pascal candle.  This candle is lit every time we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, and every time we celebrate a funeral as a reminder of the light of Christ that guides our steps, even at moments when we find it difficult to go on.  During her life here on earth, Florence knew both the joy of falling in love and the pain of losing those she loved most, but even when she was faced with such pain in her heart, she still found strength to carry on because she never lost sight of the flame of faith that flickered in her heart, the flame that allowed her to know beyond the shadow of a doubt that she was a precious child of God, and that she could call out to him: Abba, Father! … when ever she needed help … and the knowledge that he would always answer with tenderness and love.

All the children of God are also heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17).  That means that we all can look forward to eternal life in heaven when our lives here on earth have come to an end.  For this reason, today is a day of mixed emotions.  During the years that she spent here on earth, Florence sought to please God (Wis 4:10) by always seeking good in others and by encouraging them to believe in themselves.  While we are saddened by the physical separation we now experience, we also rejoice because Florence now lives, once again reunited with her beloved husband Emile, with her son Thomas and with all those who have gone to heaven before us.

Our gathering here today also allows us a moment to give thanks for the ways in which Florence’s life has had an influence on our lives.  The lessons we learn through the example that is set for us by others in our lives often have a deep and lasting impact on us.  Our approach to life is shaped by those who have taught us how to be poor in spirit (Mt 5:3): that we should never be afraid to share the gifts that are ours with others who need our help, even if they will not be able to repay us.  Generosity with our time, our talents and our resources can often teach us how to be gentle with ourselves and with others (cf Mt 5:5), and if we should be granted the rare gift of truly being able to love another person, and to know that we ourselves are deeply loved, we will also know the pain of mourning for them when they are gone (cf Mt 5:4).  This is not a bad thing.  The ache and the emptiness that is left in our hearts is a reminder of all the good we have known. 

Now it’s up to us to continue such acts of love for the sake of others.  The small flicker of faith is still alive in our hearts.  Guided by its light, we must now seek out opportunities to feed the hungry and to help quench the thirsts of those who look to us for guidance (cf Mt 5:6).  Ours is the task of responding in merciful ways to those who ask for our help (cf Mt 5:7), and of rejoicing with those who are pure in heart (Mt 5:8) – those who seek only to share with others the joy that they have encountered in coming to realize how deeply they are loved.

Someone who is deeply convinced that he or she is loved is uniquely qualified to act as a peacemaker (Mt 5:9) because the love of God can overcome every division, every jealousy and every trial.  The love of God also protects those who are persecuted, taunted and jeered because of they are doing what is right (cf Mt 5:11) so let us not be afraid to go out from this place, inspired by the example that Florence has given us and knowing deep within our hearts that we are the precious children of God.  The world needs to see the light of our faith in the acts of kindness and generosity that we share with others … and I’m sure that from her place in heaven, Florence will help us all to do this with joy in our hearts.