My First Funeral Homily

Funeral Mass for Vicente Cerdana
St. Andrew’s Parish, Werribee
January 14, 2005
Wisdom 3:1-9 2nd Reading: Romans 6:3-9; John 14:1-6

It’s a pity that I didn’t have a chance to get to know such a wonderful person such as Lolo Vicente. But I’m glad that I had an oppurtunity to hear stories about him when I had lunch at Tita Frances’ house last Monday. After hearing some anecdotes and memories about Lolo Vicente from Lola Aurelia, Tita Cora and Tita Frances, I realized how such a wonderful person he really was. When I saw the pictures of Lolo Vicente from his Golden Wedding Anniversary with Lola Aurelia in 1996, he reminded me of my own Lolo, who like him, had dedicated his whole life to his wife and his family.

Each of us here today has our own memories of our parents and grandparents. I remember Tita Frances was telling me that her father was an active and vibrant person; he was full of energy and he had a good memory; he was such a prayerful person that he even included President GMA in his daily prayers. He used to pray three decades of the Rosary with Lola Aurelia everyday, which again reminds me of my own Lolo and Lola.

Lolo Vicente had a very strong Christian faith, and obviously, he shared his faith to his children and grandchildren. The faith of Lolo Vicente in Jesus Christ is our faith as well, and this is what that brings us all here today in the Eucharist. Although Lolo Vicente’s death brings sadness and grief most especially to his wife, children and grandchildren, his loved ones here in Australia and in the Philippines, our Christian faith tells us that despite death life is not absurd and meaningless.

Death is a human reality we face everyday. Whether we like it or not, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, our own death is inevitable. But death is not the end of everything. Our Christian faith reminds us that the death of Lolo Vicente is but a continuation of his life with our Risen Lord. The reading from the Book of Wisdom echoes our hopes and confidence in this reality, as it says: “the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.”

In the second reading St. Paul talks about the mystery of our faith through our baptism. Like all of us Christians, Lolo Vicente began his life’s journey with Jesus on the day he was baptized. When our parents decided to have us baptized in the Catholic Church, we were no longer mere human beings but we became sons and daughters of God. St. Paul tells that when we were baptized we have been buried with Christ and shared his own death, “so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.” This is our hope and prayers for Lolo Vicente today, together with all our departed loved ones and those who have died recently.

The Gospel chosen by Lolo Vicente’s family for his funeral Mass today is about the dialogue of Jesus with his disciples after his Last Supper. We heard in the Gospel one of the most comforting words of Jesus: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me…” Let us allow the words of Christ to enter into the depths of our hearts and let sink it deeply into our souls: “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

Sometimes, we become like Thomas who was confused, wondering and don’t know what future holds; like him we try to make sense of everything and ask: “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Likewise, when the sting of death struck our family, we ask, “Lord, we don’t know where our departed loved ones are going?” Then again, our Christian faith tells us that death is not the end. The glorious Resurrection of Christ reminds us that death is not something to be afraid of. He assures us that he is “the way the truth and the life.”

So Lolo Vicente’s death is not the end. Although our hearts are full of sadness, but at the same of joyful hope and profound gratitude knowing that his life is changed, not ended. We can still be close to him and he is close to us still.

I’d like to borrow the words of Pope Benedict in his homily at the funeral Mass of Pope John Paul II: “We entrust your dear soul, Lolo Vicente, to the Mother of God, your Mother, who guided you each day and who will guide you now to the eternal glory of her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”