Sometimes when looking down I see what I'm not seeing when I'm looking up.... I see what's around me, what surrounds me: the beauty of the trees and the sky above and all that is on the macadam mirror - the road of life.
Today’s first reading for this 32nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time - right after the opening
paragraph - is often used for funerals. So I decided to say a few words about,
“Picking Your Readings For Your Funeral.”
When a family prepares for the funeral of a mom or dad or
spouse or child, they can get at the office at St. Mary’s a small paperback
booklet that has lots of readings as well as this and that for funerals.
They get a similar book for weddings - but I’ve noticed
at funerals a slight difference: families
often chose readings that are not in that booklet.
I like it when families pick a favorite gospel - but I’ve
noticed some priests have their favorites - so beware of that. I like it when people tell me that the
readings fit their loved one who has died.
I especially like it when they tell me why they picked a certain
reading.
SUGGESTION:
PLAN YOUR OWN FUNERAL
Sit down while your mind is working and pick out the 3
readings you would like for your funeral.
Pick out the music as well. I think people do that more
readily.
I have found Mary Gassman does a great job in helping families prepare for a funeral of a loved one.
My suggestion here is: Make it even easier by having your
funeral lined up.
I have done it for my funeral - and it’s in the pastor’s
office. I have not looked at it in a few years. I might do it again to see if
I’d have some changes. I hope Harry
Thompson can play the Shaker song, “Tis a gift to be simple” - from Appalachian
Spring. It’s number 516 in our
Missalette.
Keep it simple!
SECOND SUGGESTION:
DO THIS WITH OTHERS
I only remember one time since I’ve been here that I did
this preparation with a whole family. I’ve sat down with individuals a bunch of
times - as well as couples a bunch of times.
Teresa Marie Newton
September 16, 1944- February 2, 2006
The funeral preparation was for Teresa “Terry” Newton -
who was dying. Terry used to come to many a weekday Mass. This was back in 2006.
We met at Terry and her husband Dave’s house. The whole family - I picture
about 10 people - and Teresa sat there and talked as we picked her readings and
her songs and what she would like.
It was a powerful moment of grace for me.
This green vestment I’m wearing today is in memory of
Terry. It’s written right here on this inner stole.
We Redemptorists meet every month, but we’ve never done
this- telling each other what we would
like for our funeral. We’re asked to line up what we want for our funeral
- on paper. But my thought here is to do
this with others present.
At our convocation a few weeks back we were told to meet
more often about community stuff - life together - a lot more than we do. We meet for business - work stuff - but not
enough for community stuff.
We have a community meeting today at 9 AM and we’re
supposed to come up with some better plans for becoming a better community. I’m going to suggest that we do talk together
what we want for our funerals - what we would like - what we hope our legacy is
- what our life was like.
And I’m sure the others will look at me as if I’m a deer in
the night with headlights in my eyes. And a good P.S. Pick your best picture for your funeral program and death cards - like a picture when you were 33.
CONCLUSION
Today’s gospel talks about a banquet - and obviously -
the master isn’t going to wait on and serve the servants. Today’s gospel has
the owner bossing the servants saying things like, “Put on your apron and serve
me.”
Well, I wouldn’t chose this gospel, because when we die I
see God sitting me down to table - and serving me - like he did at the Last
Supper - washing his disciples feet and feeding them the Pascal Meal - of bread
and wine - giving us himself.
