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The inner word

28 Nov 2010 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

Advent is our annual season for longing and waiting. Sometimes the thing the parish staff most longs for is the end of the holydays and all that extra work! Let's consider truthfully what it is we are waiting for this year. What's the best part of the Advent season for you? What is the hardest thing you have to do between now and Christmas? In a word, what is it that believers anticipate in this liturgical season? How do your efforts direct them to this idea? What did you love most about this season in your childhood? What captures your heart now during this time of year? What helps you "stay awake" to the rich meaning of Advent? What do your parishioners need to help them keep vigil?

advent Christmas stay awake

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Invocation

Homilist resources for funerals - Prepare the funeral

(Given by Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin, Chaplain for the United States House of Representatives) "How mighty is the hand that can turn a page of history!" Lord God, You call each of us by name, and You alone know each of us through and through. You have called Gerald R. Ford unto Yourself, and again he has responded to You with hope and is confirmed by America's prayers just as he sought them when called to serve as President of this great nation. As we welcome Mrs. Ford and President Ford's family and friends to this Rotunda, the nation is called to surround them with their prayers--their sympathy for their loss and their gratitude for sharing his love and his loyalty with all of us for so many years in government service. Again, at this moment of death, we humbly ask You, Lord, to grant peace and reconciliation, healing and gentle civility to this nation, as this man so nobly tried to do in life's singular moments by his efforts to close chapter upon chapter on America's sadness. May the brightness of hope and the promise of eternal life reward this modest man, the Honorable Gerald Ford. And may the story of the 38th President of the United States inspire others in this nation and around the world, to respond to Your Providential call as he did. Lord, call many to seize their moment to make a difference "by serving the people's urgent needs." Then empower them to make bold steps in searching for ways of peace and reconciliation, just as he did. "For mighty is the hand that can turn a page of history."

wakes

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Wakes

Homilist resources for funerals - Prepare the funeral

Though death confounds us all, during the funeral rites people will be looking to you, the deacon/minister/presider, for answers. You have been invited into the intimacy of a family's grief--humbling honor indeed--and you have the daunting commission to inform, inspire, enlighten, and console a diverse group of mourners experiencing such wide-ranging emotions as hurt, fear, anger, indifference, relief, shame, confusion, and gratitude. These tender and hardened souls need to know that God meets them wherever they stand in their loss. Find ways to assure them in the spirit of Joshua, who said: "Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). The Vigil is the first gathering of family and friends with the faith community in the time immediately following the death of a loved one and is the first opportunity for the mourners to experience, within the context of the Christian community, the comfort of God's word through reading of the scriptures and communal prayer. --Order of Christian Funerals, paragraph 56 Vigil liturgy General format: Introductory Rites: greeting, opening song, silent pause, and opening prayer. Liturgy of the Word: first reading, psalm, gospel, and homily. Prayer of Intercession: litany, Lord's Prayer, concluding prayer, and remembrances. Concluding Rite: blessing and silent prayer. The vigil liturgy can retain its integrity while allowing for many variations, depending on cultural norms, local customs, or the needs of the bereaved. Some mourners will want to include a recitation of the rosary; others will want time for extended storytelling. Try to respect and accommodate the mourners' wishes as much as is possible and practical. Opening comments as you gather the mourners for prayer and reflection: Introduce yourself and explain your role (particularly if you are lay minister). Sample opening comments: It is a basic human need to gather together for support during a time of loss. We are here this evening (at this Vigil) seeking consolation and providing comfort to one another. For people of faith, the primary Consoler is God, and for Christians, consolation is rooted in the hope that comes from Christ's death and resurrection. We believe that N. will rise again, that death is not the last word. And your presence here confirms that God who is love is very much with us in our hour of need. Let us call upon this great Consoler now . . . . Our gathering here gives witness to the truth of Jesus' teaching, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." The great gift of humanity is that we are not alone. We journey through life with a cast of players at our sides: family, friends, neighbor, coworkers, and many other well-wishers, who give us encouragement and support. Look around: All the beautiful faces you see gathered here reflect the face of God, who we believe loves us and will not abandon us in our sorrow or at the hour of our death. Let us call upon God to hear us and give us comfort, as we sing/pray . . . We believe God satisfies our deepest longings. At this moment in our sorrow at the loss of our loved one, we long for comfort and for assurances of the fulfillment of Jesus' promise that death is not the end but the beginning of new life. We seek the same answers the ancient psalmists sought: "How long must I carry sorrow in my soul, grief in my heart day after day?" (Psalms 13:3). The truth is we never get over the death of a loved one. Death is an eternal affront, but we will get through it and beyond it with the help of God's hope-filled grace. Open your hearts to the gift of God's grace now, as we sing/pray . . . . During this vigil and in the funeral and burial to come, our role is to watch and wait with one another as N. completes the journey he/she began at his/her Baptism. We remain alert and attuned to the coming of the Lord, and we pray for N.'s safe return to God. These hours are sacred times in our lives because we are being called upon to give witness to our belief in the promise of everlasting life. We rely on the community--especially all those gathered here now--to help us to remain faithful and hopeful despite the pain and loss we feel. Let us draw on one another's and God's strength now as we sing/pray . . . . Additional tips The family and friends put their trust in you to provide proper references and remembrances of the deceased. If you didn't know the deceased personally, gather information beforehand about him or her, including family issues, circumstances around the death, the correct name (i.e., pronunciation or nickname), and characteristics and talents of the deceased. It is very jarring to hear a presider mispronounce the deceased's name or describe the deceased in ways that are contrary to the person's character (e.g., The presider says, "N. was a responsible, level-headed guy," when, in fact, N. was a bit of a dreamer. Or "N. was a sweet-natured woman," when in fact she had a biting wit). Many of those who attend the wake will not be familiar with Catholic teaching on death, the afterlife, and the resurrection of the body. Or, they may not be sure how to act or what to say. Establish a welcoming tone by keeping your comments clear and free from church jargon, and where appropriate offer simple explanations of the theological meanings behind the rituals. You may find helpful some of these images from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Death is the "Christian's Last Passover" The Christian meaning of death is revealed in the light of the Paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Christ in whom resides our only hope. The Christian who dies in Christ Jesus is "away from the body and at home with the Lord" (1681). For the Christian the day of death inaugurates the fulfillment of his new birth begun at Baptism (1682). The Church who, as Mother, has carried the Christian sacramentally during his earthly pilgrimage, accompanies him at his journey's end, to surrender him "into the Father's hands." She offers to the Father, in Christ, the child of his grace, and she commits to the earth the seed of the body that will rise in glory (1683). You may want to introduce a certain motif that you can weave into your comments at the Vigil, Mass, and gravesite (e.g., for an avid fisher, connect his/her patience with the patience we all draw on as we wait in hope for the coming of the Lord; for a mother and best friend to many, connect her compassion and care to the consolation that is the gift of the Spirit). If the family has photographs or objects on display, take time to view them before you speak to get a sense of the spirit of the person and what images the bereaved hold dear.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy, Sean Reynolds

wakes funeral vigil

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Simple gestures take the lead

Funeral homily stories

My father, who most everyone knew as Big John—a name that said as much about his hearty personality as it did about his large frame—did not leave this world without a grand sendoff. “Epic” is how one of my father’s friends described his wake and funeral Mass. As de facto patriarch of a large Irish family, many people from around the world made their way to Chicago to pay their last respects. At one point in each evening of his two-day wake, mourners were invited to say a few words about my father. These moments quickly transformed into revival-style gatherings with people waiting in line to “testify” about Big John. They told of his random acts of kindness, his broad embrace of family and friends, his long nights of drinking and storytelling. Aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, and co-workers wanted to describe the impact Big John had on their lives. My cousin John, a young father at the time, described in hilarious detail the many things he learned from Big John, including the art of conversation, how to make a sale, and the importance of pacing yourself during a long night on the town. He then ended his tribute describing one last lesson learned: “We were at the Tuohy Picnic—I was probably 17 or 18 at the time—and Big John was bouncing one of the cousins’ babies in his lap. He looked at me smiling and said, ‘Johnnie, there isn’t anything softer than a baby’s foot.’ At that moment, he taught me what it means to be a man."

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

funerals wakes storytelling

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The inner word

27 Nov 2011 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

What do you plan to do while you wait for the coming of the Lord? Stay awake, listen, watch, be prepared? Do I see myself as the work of God's hands? What changes could I make to help shape me into one who is better prepared to receive the Lord? When have I been unconscious to the feelings of others or ignored their importance in my life? What were the warning signs? What can I do to stay more alert? When I really listen to my own heart and the deepest thoughts of others, what common refrains do I hear? How can I remember them when I begin to judge others? What do I see as I look ahead? Am I growing impatient? What can I do to ensure that God is in my future?

Preparation stay awake receive

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Homily stories

27 Nov 2011 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

FOR THOSE OF US who have a hard time heeding Jesus' advice to stay awake, particularly during Mass, today's liturgy might just capture our attention--and keep us on our toes. On this First Sunday of Advent the English-speaking churches around the world officially adopt the new Roman Missal, with its revised prayers and responses. One of the most obvious changes is the congregation's response, "And with your spirit" to the celebrant's greeting "May the Lord be with you." "And with your spirit" is the literal translation of the Latin text et cum spiritu tuo and finds its roots in scripture (see Saint Paul's greeting to Galatians [6:18], for example: "May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit"). What Paul is referring to when he addresses the disciples' spirit is their Christian spirit. So we, as a congregation gathered, pray that we will each be awakened in the spirit of Christ, that we recognize that spirit among us and within us, and that the spiritual gifts received by the celebrant through ordination will be used to orient us all toward God.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

stay awake advent roman missal

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Homily stories

27 Nov 2011 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle B

Like so many others before and after me, when I was in college I discovered the power of caffeine. I could stay up all night and prepare for an exam. With my photographic memory it was just a matter of going over the material enough times to imprint it in my brain. The combination of No Doz and strong espresso did the trick for a factual kind of exam. But, if the test meant using my cognitive abilities or writing an essay, I was in trouble. My mind would race too quickly for me to sort things out. It would have been better to have rested before those exams. Advent begins with the encouragement to stay awake and be ready for the coming of our savior. There are no short cuts or artificial ways to do this. And we have only four weeks to prepare ourselves. It's a short period of time, especially when we are ironically so busy with all the preparations for what we are trying to celebrate. So what are we to do? We need to take the time to remember why we have all these traditions: the tree, ornaments, presents, parties--all of this must be put in their context. We can either walk through them like we are asleep, or become frantic and overstimulated by it all. Or we can make the conscious choice as Advent begins to pray and reflect on what the birth of Jesus means to us and to our world and how we can make the presence of Jesus more real for ourselves, our loved ones, and people of good will. Today we have the time. But we know how quickly this time will pass.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

advent stay awake preparing

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Homily themes

06 Nov 2011 - Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

Therefore, stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour. In first-century Palestine, the bridegroom would go to the bride's home to make the marriage contract and then bring her back to his home, where the bridesmaids would be waiting to greet them and the wedding feast could begin. In the parable, the foolish bridesmaids brought no oil and fell asleep before the groom arrives, while the wise ones remembered to bring oil and remained awake and ready. Homily points There is great popular interest in apocalypse and last things. Biblical answers to what lies beyond the grave have undergone evolution from "not much" to "judgment" to "great hope." Some theological answers do not point ahead to a defining moment but rather see an organic relationship between later and now. The parable of the virgins exemplifies the "already/not yet" relationship of the End and the Now. If we choose the wisdom of Christ now, we don't have to worry about last things.

Authors Joel Schorn

stay awake Marriage parable of the virgins

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Homily stories

10 Apr 2011 - Fifth Sunday of Lent, Cycle A

A mother came up to me with her second-grade son at her side. She told me that he had something he wanted to ask me. He held on to her hand tightly. The words clearly were difficult for him to formulate. After some squirming and hesitating, he finally asked me if he could bury his deceased pet hamster in the soil on the side of the church. I assured him that I could think of no more fitting a resting place for his pet to be buried. He was very relieved. Among all the other benefits and good reasons for a child caring for a pet is that they often do teach a lesson in the reality of death. In our society, death seldom is experienced at home. We try to make it more palatable with wakes and memorial services. But it remains an unknown reality for many of us. And we tend to fear what we do not know. Witness how often the word death is used in titles of movies or books created to frighten us. Death was much more visible in Jesus' time. Warm climates meant the necessity of quick burials. There is a finality about it. That is, until Jesus comes and rolls back the stone and calls his friend Lazarus out. After that moment, we realize death will never have the same hold over us.

Authors Father Dominic Grassi

pet lazarus wakes fear

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Homily stories

28 Nov 2010 - First Sunday of Advent, Cycle A

We knew eventually it would happen again, but we never knew exactly when. When we moved into our bungalow we soon discovered that most of the basements on our block would flood whenever the rains fell too quickly--including ours. And so we put everything up on shelves and pallets and prayed for mild weather and light rainfall. Yet over time we'd tend to forget and we'd "temporarily" leave a box or two on the basement floor. And one time a friend who was between jobs and between apartments asked if he could leave a "few things" at our house for just a couple of weeks. And though I warned him that we occasionally flooded, he dropped off a large truckload of furniture, including a mattress, box spring, and velour sofa we eventually discovered was one of the most absorbent items ever produced. Let's just say my back still aches when I think of hauling that soggy sofa out to the alley. And I sigh with relief whenever I see the lump in our front lawn where our new flood control system was installed. So I appreciate Jesus' reminder to "Stay awake!" and be ready for the unexpected. Advent is a time of heightened awareness where we stay alert for "acts of God" in our lives that might just surprise us. After all, the most important events in our lives often happen while we're busy making other plans.

Authors Tom McGrath

stay awake advent acts of god

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