I’ve been posted in the community where I live for six years. In that time, I have presided five funerals during Holy week. On Saturday I received a call from a parishioner that his mother, 80 years old, had just died. My reaction was of shock. She has been ill for about 7 months, but always bounced back. I went to meet with the family, all her children and their spouses, to plan the celebration we would have on Tuesday, the third day in Holy Week.
For some reason I’m feeling more anxious that usual for this celebration of life. I think it’s because I have known this lady for six years. She was part of our Bible Study group, she was a stalwart member of the 8:00 am service. She volunteered as part of a Community Justice Circle, helped feed the hungry at a Coffee House in the City and seemed indestructible.
A kind a lovely English lady who loved her garden and her family. She spoke fondly of her children and grandchildren. She had a special relationship with God. And she prayed for me. When I was inducted she gave me a statue of a woman on her knees, hands clasped and praying. She said it should remind me to always take time for prayer. And she was right. That statue sits on the windowsill in my office where I can see it whenever I’m there. It makes me happy to see it and know she continues to pray for me, as I continue to pray for her.
Tonight there is a Tenebrae service of light and shadow. There will be seven candles on the altar, lit, and over the next 45 minutes we will hear the psalms and chant the refrain that will centre us and prepare us for the continuing journey that is Holy Week.
We won’t say goodbye to M today. We will wish her Godspeed, commend her into the arms of the Lord and know that one day we will meet again. That her celebration of life is during Holy Week, I believe, is comfort through the pain we feel. The promise of the resurrection is always there, especially during this sacred week in the life of the Christian community.
So we will gather to celebrate and remember one whom we love so well. And we will gather in the darkness this evening to give thanks for all we are grateful. Life does go on, it does continue, but in a different way.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
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