I was reading the obituaries this morning, I like to see if I have a funeral coming up, and I had noticed that a few of the obituaries refer to a celebration of the persons life. Having sat through eulogies which highlight the persons love of fishing, or knitting abilities, I have to wonder where the hope is in these peoples lives. To be sure these were good people, essentially we all are, but these celebrations of life seem so very empty. The eulogy giver will allude to heaven. "Uncle Ottis is looking down from heaven right now."
Jesus and the Paschal Mystery become relegated to the niceties of an elderly uncle. Jesus is not the source of salvation as much as he is a good buddy who give us a few bucks for coffee, and is always ready with a compliment. It is good to take a step back and to remind ourselves that Jesus is the Son of the living God, who brings us salvation and peace, by his dying and rising.
This week we are continuing our reading of the Book of Exodus. This is the story of the Covenant that is made between God and us. At Passover Jewish families retell this story as they celebrate the Seder Meal. When we hear about the Pharisees and Sadducees we think of them as being these very rigid religious types. For them the covenant is the foundation of their faith and religious lives.
As Christians, and especially as catholics, we celebrate the new covenant with God, which was ratified in the Paschal Mystery. So that Jesus dies and rises brings us unity and oneness with God the Father. Jeremiah the Prophet tells us that God has carved us on the palm of his hand. That is the intimacy and communion we have with God. We rejoice in this relationship but we are also challenged. This new Covenant necessitates that we are living holy lives.
God pronounces to our fore bearers "I will be your God and you will be my people." So to be sure God will watch over us, but then we live in the way that our God has shown us. The Beatitudes and the last judgement scene are not just nice narratives. They are there to imply what is means to live a life of the covenant. God is just and merciful, so how do we respond to the good things that our God has given to us.
Certainly at funerals we remember of deceased family and friends. But this is a time to be attentive that we belong to God. Just like God raises his Son up from suffering and death, we who risk living out the covenant have the hope of rising again. The larger celebration is that the Paschal Mystery is part of our lives because Jesus loves us. So we give praise and thanks to the Father who keeps watch over us, and embraces us with salvation.
Correct me if I'm wrong but aren't eulogies disallowed in the RCC? But then again many rules are broken when it comes to liturgy. And what of this "he's in heaven now" attitude. Hell ain't empty.
ReplyDeleteYou are correct, eulogies are not part of the Funeral Liturgy. There is a place at the Vigil and at the graveside where personal reflections may be expressed. In our post modern society there is an underlying popular theology that everyone goes to heaven.
ReplyDelete...yes, and not only is the popular belief that everyone goes to Heaven, but they can do so without the need for purgatory.....it's easy just live a "good life" (however you choose to define it) and you'll go to Heaven, so the thinking goes....
ReplyDelete