FUNERAL FOR JAMES MCNAUTON
Good morning everyone, on behalf of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, we would like to extend our deepest sympathy, prayers and support to the family members, relatives, friends of our departed friend James.
Today we are here to thank God through our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit for our beloved brother James for all the good things that he enjoyed in his life and the love, kindness and forgiveness that he experienced from above. Those who believe in God will never be abandoned but be given everlasting life.
And let us also pray for ourselves who believe in the love and kindness of God and who sincerely practice our faith in Christ that one day we might join our brother to praise, thank and glorify God in Christ.
Friends in Christ Jesus,
“Death is not extinguishing the light; it is putting out the lamp because the dawn has come. Those who believe in Christ the light of the world, will never see darkness and that’s why Christ our Lord once said, ‘I am the light of the world and those who follow me will have the light of life”.
As we who believe in Christ and practice our faith know so well that we are always in the light. And that is why as we enter in the church, we bless ourselves with the Holy water that reminds us of our intimate connection and relation with God Almighty in Christ our Lord the light of the world. On the day of Baptism, a light from heaven came upon us and blessed us. From that light came a voice saying, “you are my child, my beloved with whom I am well pleased”. From that time onward, we begin to reflect that light in the world. Yes, that light is our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us thank God for our brother James who received that light on the day of his baptism.
It’s our human nature to go away from God and fall into sin over and over again and do something stupid often. But at the same time, as we go to Christ our Lord, He would say, ‘Child your sins are forgiven, and you are lost and now you are found. You were dead and now you are alive. Thus, He would fill us with eternal light. Our brother had a great opportunity to receive the unlimited forgiveness of Christ our Lord in his life.
Friends in Christ Jesus, as we come to Church and receive the Holy Eucharist that is the body and blood of Christ, we are given an assurance saying that we would never taste death only life. Yes, through His body, Christ opens our eyes and let us see the light that’s Christ Himself.
So,let us thank God for our brother James who was given an opportunity to taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
In today’s gospel, Thomas like any other human being filled with doubts and dilemmas comes to Christ and says, “Jesus, you are saying that you are going away from us and how can we know the way?” Christ the compassionate one, the light of the world says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can go to the Father except through me”.
Yes, Christ is the only way. Christ is the only truth and He is the only life and if we want to have life, a life that will never end, let us hold on to Him and Him alone the light of the world. Amen.
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