Something hidden that is now made clear

Here is the text of the homily I prepared for the funeral that was celebrated here this morning: a gathering of God's faithful people to undertake an act of faith on behalf of one of our brothers.

Funeral homily for Ernest Aimé Drouin

Il y a un an et quelques mois, nous étions rassemblés ici afin d’entourer notre cher frère Ernest ainsi que ses proches de nos prières au moment où nous avons prononcé notre à Dieu à son épouse, votre mère bien-aimée Alice.  Nous voici aujourd’hui, réunis de nouveau afin de prier, cette foi-ci en faveur d’Ernest.  Que cette prière soit un signe de notre confiance en Dieu et la source de réconfort pour tout ceux et celles qui se trouvent en deuil.
A little more than a year ago, we were gathered here to surround our dear brother Ernest and his family members with our prayer at the time when we bid farewell to his wife, your beloved mother Alice.  Today, we are once again assembled in this place.  We have come to pray, this time for Ernest.  May our prayer be a sign of our hope in God and a source of comfort for all those who are saddened by his death.

The book of Ecclesiastes reminds us today that For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecc 3:1).  Ernest and Alice knew the joy of experiencing the birth of each of their six children.  Together, they marveled as each of you grew, and in turn celebrated your own accomplishments, including the extension of the family that now includes 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Throughout the years that Ernest and Alice shared together, there were indeed many moments worth celebrating.  In fact, they had spent such a long time together that when God called Alice from this world, I’m sure that Ernest was heart broken.  It’s only natural to feel that way: after all, a part of him was no longer present – not in the same way as he had once known.  So it is for us today: there is a part of our hearts too that feels empty now that he is no longer physically present, but as we do in all moments of our lives, we look today toward the example that Jesus left for us.

In the gospel passage that was proclaimed, Jesus was praying.  The words he spoke were words of trust, words spoken by a son who knew very well that his Father loved him and would always listen to him: I thank you Father …. for you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants (Mt 11:25). 

In the days to come, friends and family will do their best to express their sympathy to all of you, but perhaps some will have difficulty speaking their thoughts.  Even the most eloquent of speakers can fall mute when it comes to speaking about such things as the death of a loved one, but for people of faith, we believe that the end of earthly life (whenever it comes) is nothing more than the moment when we enter into our heavenly homeland.  Those who are wise in the ways of the world find it difficult to understand this truth, but this is precisely what Jesus came to tell us: Come to me, all you who are carrying heavy burdens … for I am gentle in heart and you will find rest for your souls (Mt 11:28-29).

Ernest was present on the day when each of you were baptized, welcomed into God’s family.  On the day of our baptism, we became part of Christ’s family – his brothers and sisters.  Through baptism, Saint Paul says that we entered into his death – dying to the temptations of the world – so that just as Christ was raised from the dead … so we too might walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:3-4).  On this day when we give thanks for the life that Ernest lived among us, let us ask the Lord to grant him the great privilege of living with him forever in heaven.