Funeral of Viola Schmitz, Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008

"

Homily, Saturday, January 26, 2008
Funeral Mass for Viola Schmitz

Daniel 12: 1-3: “At that time your people shall escape, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake; some shall live forever.”

In Baptism, Viola died with Christ. As she rose from the Waters of Baptism, she rose to new life with Him. Her name was then inscribed in the Book of Life.

In Eucharist she united herself intimately with her Crucified Lord, and so was one with Him. May she sit eternally at table with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

In Marriage, she left her familiar family of origin of the Bergman's to take the form and likeness of the Schmitz family, just as Jesus left the Throne of his Majesty at the Right Hand of God the Almighty, taking our humble human likeness and form. And now God has exalted him above all the creatures, both in heaven and on Earth.

In this Death, she again leaves her familiar family, to be married, wedded and welded for eternity into the Family of God in Heaven. May she who identified with Christ through the sacrament of Marriage, walking in His footsteps from the start to finish, be exalted to the Heavenly family of God.

All this was her journey. A necessary journey for her growth, and her expansion. Like St. Paul, in the First Reading, she can say, “I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.”

And her's was a marathon of life at that.

Psalm 90: 10:  “Our days dwindle under your wrath, our lives are over in a breath -- our life lasts for 70 years, 80 for those who are strong (and healthy).”

She has reached the finish line. She has completed the circle. She has reached where she started. The Beginning and the End. Her Alpha and the Omega. God her maker Himself.

FAMILY

Though natural and expected, death is always painful simply because of it's irreversibility. Just the thought that one can no longer behold the face of the loved one from now on, is heart renting.

Console yourself, nevertheless, with the word of God where He says, "For He inflicts pain, and gives relief; He wounds, and His hands also heal.”

Surrender yourselves to God's will. The Lord says, “See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me;  “It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand.”

"Come, let us return to the Lord. For he has torn us, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him.”

At this difficult time, count more your blessings to have had a Mom like Viola, a grandma like Viola, a sister like Viola, an aunt like Viola.

Make her proud by staying tight as family, for she will like to see you united and together like the mother chicken gathers her chicks.

May Viola's soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace.  Amen.

"