Faith enters where reason cannot

Some experiences can never be adequately explained with human words; at such times, we must simply stand alongside those who ask the questions and provide the comfort of our presence and our prayer.

Funeral homily for Andrew (A.J.) Levinski

Mary-Lou, Jeffrey and Carly, your family and friends have gathered around you to express their sympathy and closeness to you during a moment which has left everyone with many more questions than answers.  Your faith family is also present, surrounding you today with our prayer, our friendship and our love.  Some moments in life seem to etch themselves into our hearts and souls, and this is one of those moments.

Last evening, I heard an expression: only a few words, but deep with meaning.  Around the table in a home in Southern Italy, one might happen to hear someone say: Quando va bene, ascordici!  Quando va male, pensaci!  When life is good, we tend to forget individual moments, but when there are trials, we should always spare a thought and a prayer for those who are struggling.   There is great wisdom in these words.

Just a few days ago, none of us would have dreamt that we would be gathered here in this church today, not for this reason.  Young adults who are 20 years old are supposed to be in school, dreaming of the careers they want to pursue when they’ve completed their education, they’re supposed to be preparing for mid-term exams, they’re supposed to be dreaming together about the future and how they hope to make this world a better place, they’re supposed to be taking care of one other, playing a piano and sharing sticks of really good gum.  That’s the way it’s supposed to be, and that’s the way it would be if life were going well, but then again, perhaps we wouldn’t be paying much attention to such details if that were the case.

Andrew’s life was much too short by any measure.  There’s a part of us that will always try to figure out why his life, which was so full of promise and possibility has come to an end, but no amount of human reasoning will answer the questions that rumble in our souls.  Instead, we must spare a thought for those who are struggling, and stand with them in faith.

At another time in history, Jesus tried to tell people about the kingdom of God, the homeland to which we are all destined, but most of them found it difficult, even impossible to grasp the truth of what he was saying.  You see, no amount of human logic will ever be able to answer some of life’s questions.  It’s as though the answers are hidden from human wisdom and intelligence, yet the secrets of God’s kingdom are often revealed to those who realize that we are all God’s children (cf Mt 11:25).  At times in our lives when we find life too difficult to face, Jesus calls to us with the voice of an understanding and accepting brother: come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest (Mt 11:28).

Jesus always has time for us; God has infinite patience, time enough to savour every individual moment, every joy, every success and every triumph.  He also has an infinite ability to be present to us when we are struggling, imprisoned by the chains that life sometimes wraps around us.  God never gives up on us; he has never given up, because he already knows what we are capable of.  Each one of us has it in us to pour out our lives in service to others, like a libation that flows freely from a glass, and when we do, when we live each day by seeking opportunities to love and to be loved, there is a crown of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8) that awaits us.

The time that has been granted to us to share the journey with this young man has come to an end far too soon.  He who was always willing to do even the most menial of chores in order to make life easier for someone else has now been given other work to do.  Today, we offer our humble prayers, asking God, who welcomed him into this family of faith on the day of his baptism and wrote his name that day in the book of life, to welcome him home now and to grant him the fullness of life.  With Saint Michael the archangel standing by his side, he will now watch over all of us, protecting us from his place in heaven, shining like the brightness of the sky and leading all of us to our heavenly home (cf Dan 12:1-3).

Today is the feast day of Our Lady of Lourdes.  In 1858, Our Lady appeared to a little girl, not far from the city of Lourdes in southern France.  Mary taught Bernadette to make the sign of the cross and to pray for those who are sick and suffering.  Mary has always been very close to the heart of her son Jesus, and she is always very close to his beloved people.  Let us ask her to pray with us, to help us to always be attentive and thankful for the blessings we receive, and let us also ask her to help us to be courageous witnesses of God's gentle presence to those in our world who are suffering and in need of help.  Hail Mary ...