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Homily – June 27, 2021

The author of the book of Wisdom tells us ‘God did not make death’

In his epic poem ‘Paradise Lost John Milton gives his version of the origin of death, jealousy and envy.

Milton fantasizes that Lucifer, the bearer of light envied the glory of God and would rather reign in hell rather than serve in heaven. Coming to earth he finds Adam and Eve in the pristine beauty of their relationship with God,- a relationship he’d lost. In a jealous rage Lucifer decided to lure them away from their closeness to God by telling them that if they ate the forbidden fruit they would become like God, knowing good and evil. Milton has Lucifer saying, ’I can suck them into myself, their beauty and all its traces. If I posse them I will be great again. I will be able to continue my war against God and I can win.

God did not create death. We are born to die and in dying we are born into eternal life. Our Christian faith tells us that death is not the end of life, it is the beginning of new and endless life, where the eye has not seen, nor the ear has not heard what God has prepared for those who love him.

We grieve over the sudden and tragic death of someone we love and we are grateful for the death of a family member or friend who suffers from a lingering illness.

As we celebrate this Mass we remember the promise of Jesus– he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in them and I will raise them up on the last day.

No one gets out of this life alive – but we go from death to life, endless life.

We are shocked, saddened and embarrassed at the unmarked graves of these unknown Indigenous children. But we know that God knows them and call them each by name.

This Homily entry was posted on Sunday, June 27th, 2021.