O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

Today we had the funeral and burial service for Bro. George Huyer.  His brother and sister-in-law drove twelve hours from Florida to see off their beloved brother.  They are spunky people, both approaching the age of 90, yet with quite the amount of energy and wit.  It was a small service with five Edmundites and the two family members, but it was heartfelt and provided much peace for George's relatives, who were so grateful for everything.  They will be joining us for lunch before they begin their journey back to Florida.

One thing that has been very important for me is seeing how important ritual is when it comes to death.  It provides a sense of closure and solace.  George's family commented on how he finally looked so much at rest and how he even was smiling a little.  The consistency of the mass also helps place the loss of a loved one in a familiar context, and it is a blessing to see how these deaths, whether expected or not, fit into what is part of our daily or weekly lives.  The Eucharist gathers us together both in life and in death.  As Fr. Steve spoke in his homily, "Death is not the end of the story for the Christian.  It is the middle.  It is the place at which we wait in joyful hope for the Resurrection."  And that may be the most important part of the rituals surrounding death: the reminder--the hope and the promise--that death does not have the last word.  St. Paul wrote to the Corinthian community, O death, where is your victory?  O Death, where is your sting?  But thanks be to God who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

As we celebrated the lives of our brothers Michael and George over the last few weeks, I am reminded of how fragile life is, of how unexpectedly death may come and we be welcomed into our eternal home.  I am reminded of the great works these men accomplished through Christ during their lives on this earth.  I am reminded that Christ loved us unto death, and that we share that very same calling.  And I look forward with hope--for our departed brothers, for their families, for our Edmundite community--knowing that death indeed will not have the final say.  I think we've buried enough Edmundites for one week.

Bro. Francis (George) Huyer in his younger years.

Bro. George & friend.

Bro. George Huyer, SSE
1921 - 2013