This week has been an especially difficult one for my extended family and myself. Last Friday, I received a call from my cousins who told me that his mother (my father’s sister) had passed after an on and off battle with multiple health issues for much of this year. The following day, I received a message from another cousin informing me that one of my uncles (my mother’s brother) died that morning as well. To modify a line from President Gerald Ford, “The state of the family is not good.”
It’s always hard to say goodbye to someone who has always been in your life, but I was especially close to my aunt, so it hurts even more. She was a fan of my writing and made it known to her children that she wanted me to deliver her eulogy as I had done for my both of my parents. Of course I am honored that she would want me of all people to do it, but I can’t lie. I’m getting a little tired of these gigs.
At some point during the decision-making process, one of my aunt’s children called me to go over the music that would be played at her service, just in case I needed some kind of inspiration for whatever I wanted to say. One of the pieces was “All Through the Night.” The other was a tear-jerking number called “Going Home.” I thanked him for the assistance, but to be honest…I already had my remarks prepared. That’s one of the neat things about being a writer. You always have some idea about what you want to say.
As I prepare for an out-of-state road trip to say goodbye and to pay my respects to both sides of my family tree, today’s readings are the last thing on my mind. Don’t get me wrong, I know it is in these times that we must rely on God the most, but quite frankly, I’m a little ticked off at Him for taking away two people that I cared about. I’m mad that it all happened so quickly and although I should be happy that there is one heck of a family reunion going on in Heaven, I can’t help wishing everyone was still here with the rest of us.
However, as I glanced over the readings for today, my eyes zeroed in on one particular line: “Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” That’s what it’s really all about, isn’t it? Before we were formed in the womb, He knew us and though we don’t have any memories of our time with Him, we still come from Him and someday we must return. When that day comes, our joy will be complete with our Father who loves us. It will be hard to leave behind those who do not understand and who will miss us, but perhaps death is not a journey into the unknown…perhaps it’s like the lyrics of the song we’ll play for my aunt in a couple of days. Perhaps we are simply “going home.”
Readings for today’s Mass: Acts 18:23-28; PS 42 2-3, 8-9, 10; JN 16:23B-28
