Jim McCarthy #1

Funeral Mass Homily for Fr. James J. McCarthy August 5, 2023

Mt 5:5-9

  ““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)  

The purpose of a funeral homily:

to remind the hearers of the Christian message about death and life in Christ

  for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them 1

to review some of the Scriptures in which Jesus teaches us how to live so as to inherit that life

to review aspects of the life of the deceased that illuminate and illustrate those Gospel values.

To pray

for the deceased: that God receive him into his glory;

for ourselves: that we may so live as to receive the same inheritance.

  ““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)  

If I were to ask you who comes to mind when you hear these words of Saint Paul’s First letter to the Corinthians, it wouldn’t surprise me if you said,

‘Father Jim McCarthy’

Anyone who knew him, knew that he was devout, kind, gentle and devoted to the people in his care.

To discuss even a routine bit of business with him was to sense

for sure

that he saw you as the son or daughter of God that you are

and that he treated you accordingly.

There is hardly anything more that needs to be said about how to live as a Christian.

Here I go; and I promised myself that I wouldn’t canonize ahead of his time!

(You know that if he heard me now, he would pull me aside and whisper in my ear. 'Stop going on about me’ he’d say, ‘You’re going overboard!’)

There are many other ways to be a good christian, of course, but this was Jim’s way; and, as far as I know, he never wavered from it.

There are other aspects of Fr McCarthy’s life that I suggest you not imitate.

Take time off: for yourself, for your family and friends; for your spiritual, intellectual and social growth.