As Holy Mother Church celebrates today the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we have gathered to commend our sister N. to the Lord and to entrust her to his merciful love.
In Jesus’ transfiguration on Mount Tabor the Apostles Peter, James and John beheld his glory, the glory of his resurrection. In glimpsing the Lord’s glory, they also beheld the promise of the resurrection of the dead and life everlasting, the promise of their own transfiguration.
Although this is a sad day for us who mourn, it is also a fitting day for us to present N. to her Lord, asking as we do that he fulfill the promise given her in Baptism to share in the resurrection of Christ. For as the Apostle Paul says, “We know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and place us with you in his presence” (II Corinthians 4:14).
Today the Lord says to us through his prophet Isaiah:
On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples. On this mountain he will destroy the veil that veils all peoples, the web that is woven over the nations; he will destroy death forever (Isaiah 25:6-8).Of what mountain does the Lord speak? He speaks of Mount Tabor where he revealed his transfigured glory. He speaks of Mount Calvary where he suffered our death and destroyed forever the long reign of sin and death. He speaks of the mountain of this sanctuary, of this altar, where we share in his death and resurrection through the power of the Eucharist, his very own Body and Blood given for us.
It is here on this mountain of the Lord that he “will wipe away the tears from all faces” (Isaiah 25:8), even as he says to us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).
It is because of this invitation of Jesus Christ to receive his grace and mercy that we “are not discouraged” (II Corinthians 4:16).
We who believe know that death is not the end, but is rather, for those who trust in his divine mercy, the opening up of that “dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven” (II Corinthians 5:1).
How are we to inherit this heavenly home? By following the command of Christ to “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matthew 11:29).
These words of the Master may strike you as odd this morning, N., as you entrust your wife and mother to the Lord. Your hearts are heavily burdened today and yet Jesus asks you to take up a new yoke, his yoke? Yes.
He tells us to lay aside the yoke of earthly things, of selfish desires and sin, of fear and doubt, so that we might take up his own yoke, the yoke of heavenly things, of virtue and of grace and faith. Whereas every other yoke is heavy, burdensome and weighs us down, the yoke of Christ is light, easy and lifts us up.
It is only by taking up the yoke of Christ, the yoke of faith and trust that you first received in Baptism, that “you find rest for yourselves.”
To each of you, N.’s family and friends, I extend the prayerful sympathies of Msgr. Enlow and of the parish family. Together, let us keep N. in prayer as we ask the Lord to open the gates of Paradise to her.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. Amen.
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