Funeral Homily for Jim McCarthy #2

Beatitude(s)

A bullet point guide to Christian life

containing comfort for the afflicted; and affliction for the comfortable

describing the attitudes of those who have been transformed by the power and the message of Christ:

who trust that God will honor his promises even when we don’t recognize it when it happens;

who, strengthened by this confidence, reach out to people in their need without counting the cost;

material, emotional or spiritual.

Catholic Funeral Liturgy

One, pre-eminent, example of this support.

To comfort those who mourn,

to pray for the deceased.

to remind the whole community to live in God’s reign now as messengers of mercy, as peacemakers, as people who hunger and thirst and work for justice.

An Example

Who do you think of

when you hear or read?:

““Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:5–9, ESV-CE)

Jim McCarthy

is probably one of the first who comes to mind. Jim was

totally devoted to the people he served,

gentle in correction as in collaboration

Determined to complete everything he undertook:

for you, for me, or for the Lord.

Our prayer today

for Jim

May God give him rest at last, and the reward of his labor (the laborer is worthy of his wages.)

for ourselves

May we be

comforted by the assurance of faith,

emboldened to proclaim Christ to all who will listen,

strengthened by the Sacrament we celebrate to

show mercy

work for peace

hunger and thirst for righteousness.