In the Midst of New Life…Death?

05-28-2017Weekly ReflectionFr. Brian Jazdzewski

Memorial Day weekend is among us. Many of us have mowed our lawns several times; some hay has already been cut(and harvested). Flowers have been purchased and planted and we are enjoying their beauty. Even some beauty of theflowers of spring has passed. Despite the regular rainfall and less than favorable temperatures, new life springs from theearth. Fields have been tilled and seeds have been planted (is there a rain resistant variety of corn/beans?).

How appropriate these rites of spring are during our Blessed Season of Eastertime! Weeks ago, and for the present days,we continue to celebrate the Resurrection. The Lord has been given new life and promises new life to those who are faithfulto Him. We rely upon His love and mercy so that we can be, like Mary, filled with grace as we journey toward eternity. Wecontinue to rely upon her intercession to aid us in our response to being called disciples of Jesus. Already we enjoy new lifeas we have come up from the waters of baptism. We have been claimed by Christ and live new life in Him.

While the Lord accompanies us on our journey, He also promises to be with us at the end of our days. The thought of dyingmay be awkward to consider during Easter time, yet the reality exists that we will die before we can enter our eternalexistence. So, I make a quick transition to thoughts of death, particularly the concept of eulogy.

Eulogy is strictly defined as: a speech or piece of writing that praises someone highly, usually around the time ofsomeone’s death. Days and weeks continue to pass and I hear more and more comments about how people are growingweary of hearing eulogies at funerals. More and more people describe how the comments made about the deceased areoften too personal and sometimes inappropriate. Further, people who speak with me mention how some eulogies go on toolong. For these practical reasons, the policy in the Diocese of La Crosse mentions that brief words of appreciation may bementioned at the Funeral Mass; the more appropriate time to express these words is during the Funeral Vigil. Additionally,many priests are choosing to permit these words of appreciation, if the families think its really necessary, to be expressedbefore the Funeral Mass begins. As many of you know, as a consequence of some of the aforementioned criticisms, mylocal policy is consistent with these words of appreciation to be expressed at the Funeral Vigil or before the Funeral Massbegins.

For further explanation, the eulogy is to highly praise the deceased. Some of the conversations I’ve had about eulogies ishow the content takes away from the primary reason we are celebrating Mass. Catholic funeral services are to be attentiveto the Lord and what He has done for us. Our formal prayers are to concentrate on the Lord’s love and mercy for each ofus, and more importantly, for the deceased. Further, every liturgy is the property of the Church; a universal sense of ourconnection to the Lord. In turn, the Church is speaking of great promises for the deceased through its prayers, silence andsong. Our commission is to be attentive to the prayer of the Church and how the Church will provide prayers for the faithful departed. We look to the Lord after the loss of a loved one and turn to Him for strength and support.

Despite the fact that some people are uncomfortable discussing death, the reality of dying is part of our lives. We have tolive so that we can die. While we are regularly aware of death, we continue to rejoice that the Lord has called us to new lifein Baptism and another new life in eternity. So, for our part, we continue to rejoice in these spring and Easter days that thenew life we sample now is only a glimpse of the new life we are promised in eternity. While you immerse yourself in thegraces of Easter and spring, may you continue to deepen your affection for our Blessed Mother. She is the one whoaccompanies us and prays for us “now and at the hour of our death.”