From the locum
Last week I attended rather than, as is usually the case, officiated at, a funeral. Many people whom I have not seen for some time came to say their farewells; we shared memories and experiences, and gave thanks for a long life, well-lived.
It was a story of faith and obedience, from the deceased’s earliest years until her eventual departure. Was it a whitewash? Did we collectively give in to that temptation to only speak well of a person who has died? “Never speak ill of the dead” is an oft-quoted proverb. No, this was a thanksgiving! Of course, no-one is perfect, but it is certainly true that if we put our best efforts into life we can make a tremendous difference for good. This was a life invested in people and in the Kingdom of God - truly a faithful servant of Christ.
As a Christian, I find a funeral is always a mixed emotional journey. To say goodbye to a friend or loved one is always difficult, and we shouldn’t pretend otherwise. But alongside the natural grief there is a confidence: when Jesus invites us to follow him, he also guarantees our eternal destiny.
As a priest, my task has often been to help the bereaved along the journey of acceptance and grief. Being involved in a funeral service is a huge privilege and a massive responsibility.
Facing our own mortality is a challenge to us all. Even with the assurance of faith we still face the uncertainty wrapped up in the actual experience of dying. This funeral of which I’m writing occurred close enough to Easter to remind me of the glorious hope of the resurrection. Jesus Christ entered the full experience of death, took it apart, and rendered it powerless through that Resurrection from the dead. It was a miracle above any other, and the subsequent encounters with the Risen Christ laid the foundation for the continuing spread of the Kingdom of God - even to this very day.
We can no more imagine what life beyond death is like than a caterpillar can anticipate the changed life after its transformation into a butterfly. Yet we are confident because Christ returned from the dead, and has promised that he will return again to restore and reconcile this damaged creation. Death of itself is never good news. But resurrection is the ultimate definition of good news. Jesus summed it up perfectly, as John recorded in his Gospel.
Fr Michael