OUR HUMAN DESIRE ^_[1]

WITH GREAT delight I sat in his shadow, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. [SongSol 2:3-4]

This evening, we come together to show our solidarity and love for Larry L. devoted husband of Jo Ann L., and the L. family whose love for their mother and grandmother has never been stronger than at this time, in this hour.

We express our sadness for Jo Ann’s struggle and suffering in recent months.

We mourn her death and her family’s profound loss.

If no other reasons existed for us to gather here, these would be enough—in fact they are everything, and they point to the very essence of our uncommon common humanity.

You may not have known Jo Ann L. personally, but you know her through her devoted spouse of 54 years and their 6 children.

In this way, we all have been given custody of a part of Jo Ann’s portrait of life. Whenever we come together, as we have today, her portrait is painted anew and is made complete. This is a gift of the God’s Holy Spirit.

As we behold her beautiful likeness in mind and heart, I pray that each of each will see the potential--indeed the necessity--for our own goodness, fundamental decency, faithful service in God’s Kingdom, and loyal and productive citizenship in our beloved America, through which God has given us so much.

Not all of us have the privilege and honor of being a wife, mother and grandmother. Not all of us accept the vocation to offer a lifetime to nurture and protect, to lead and guide a strong family of children and grandchildren who work to make the world better by who they are and what they do.

But there are many wonderful things we do share in common, and this is evidenced by your heartfelt presence here today, and by your having accepted the duty to comfort a grieving family, and to accompany their beloved deceased who, in death, commends herself to our respectful and reverent care along the final journey to her place of rest.

Yet there is one more thing that unites all men and women of good will. It is our human desire that at the end of life, we are reconciled with God and all persons, forgiven our transgressions, and comforted by the ministry of family and friends.

Perhaps the most sublime expression of this thought is found in the words of Pope John XXIII. At the end of his life when he received the sacrament of the Holy Anointing of the Sick, he said:

FOR MY part, I’m not aware of having offended anyone, but if I have, I beg their forgiveness; and if you know anyone who has not been edified by my attitudes or actions, ask them to have compassion on me and to forgive me.

IN THIS last hour, I feel calm and sure that my Lord, in his mercy, will not reject me. Unworthy though I am, I wanted to serve him, and I’ve done my best to pay homage to truth, justice, charity and the meek and humble heart of the Gospel. [Pope John XXIII]

On behalf of the L. family, I give you the joy of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ, and I commend you to share, without reservation, your heartfelt condolences. May God bless you and keep you.

^[1] Funeral Wake, 19 May 2011. For the repose of the soul of Jo Ann L.+ (16 May 2011). /SongSol 2:3-4.