The dignity of a precious child

He sat quietly every week toward the back of the church, until the day that God called him home.  Today we commended his soul into the loving arms of our God who has loved him every moment of his earthly life, so that he can rejoice forever in the Father's house.

Funeral homily for Delwin Dorschner

Joanne, Michael, Jeffrey and Maureen, your family and friends have gathered around you and the other members of your family during these past days to express their sympathy and their condolences.  We, the members of your family of faith are also present with you in this moment.  Together, we give thanks to God this day for the many years that you, that we ... have been granted to spend in Del’s company.

Maureen, Jeffrey, Brittany and Michael, thank you for sharing your memories of this wonderful man, a decorated war hero who was always secure in the knowledge that he was and is a precious child of God.  The story of God’s love for Del began on the day that he was baptized.  In fact, every time Del entered this church and blessed himself with the holy water we have at the doors, he was reminded of the day of his baptism.  It was fitting then that we sprinkled his casket as it was brought into the church, as yet another reminder of the day when God welcomed him into his family and gave him new life in Christ.  As a precious son of God (cf Rom 8:14), Del was also one of God’s heirs, as we all are.  The inheritance that awaits us is the promise that when this earthly life is over, we shall all be glorified with him (cf Rom 8:17) in heaven.

As a visible reminder of the dignity to which he was called on the day of his baptism, he was clothed with a garment of white.  Today, as a reminder of the dignity that he has carried with him through this life, and which he now carries with him into his heavenly life, we have draped his casket with the pall.  This is a very simple but deeply significant act, for it reminds us that each one of God’s beloved children has a place reserved at the heavenly banquet table – a place where the Lord for whom we wait (Is 25:9) will sit at the table and dine with us.  At that table, he will share all his hopes and dreams with us; he will gaze into our eyes with the over-brimming love with which Del gazed into the faces of each and every one of you and we will be glad and rejoice in his presence.

There is yet another sign that was present on the day of Del’s baptism: the Pascal candle that burned brightly.  It is burning today too, on the day of his funeral, as a constant reminder of the light of faith that was kindled in his heart, a light that he kept burning brightly, a light that was witnessed by anyone who had the pleasure to know him, to work with him on the CPR, or to witness his skilled hands at work.  This light was witnessed in quiet moments he shared with his beloved Kay as they prayed for each other and for each of you, and at other times when he bore witness to his faith, and even witnessed the faith of his comrades in arms at critical moments in their lives.

Every day of his life, Del began with the knowledge that he was a precious child of God, called to be poor in spirit (Mt 5:3): to know that when all is said and done, there is only one God and we should never stop thanking him for the blessings we have received.  Many are the times he mourned the loss of friends and family members (cf Mt 5:4), after having shared countless happy moments and memories with them.  Some of those memories – the most haunting ones - had etched themselves on his soul, yet he always accepted them meekly (cf Mt 5:5) and chose rarely to speak of them.  Through his words, but more importantly through his actions, he taught every one of you to hunger and thirst for righteousness (Mt 5:6) and to do everything in your power to make sure that others are treated fairly.  We may never know how often he prayed for the grace to be merciful (Mt 5:7), especially to those who needed his help.

As we commend his eternal soul into the arms of our heavenly Father, let us ask him to always watch over us, to continue teaching and guiding us, to help us to be pure of heart (Mt 5:8) – to never forget the dignity that is ours because we are children of God, to seek out opportunities each day to be instruments of peace in our world (Mt 5:9), and to never shy away from acts of justice and righteousness, even if they should win us ridicule or persecution (Mt 5:10) at the hands of others who do not understand the motivation for our faith.