As I read what she wrote two things stayed with me deep in my heart. Her depth of understanding and maturity even at this young age of what is really important to life. She said that when at times she felt sorry for herself on how badly she was done by. When she started to feel totally weighed down by what she had to do or by the responsibilities that she had to attend to, she always remembered that there were others who were much worse than her. She did not wallow in self pity. She did not succumb to negativity and sulked or got worked up about what she going through. Rather very wisely and very Jesus like, she responded by giving attention to those who were in need. From what she wrote I could understand that what gave her life, what gave her energy and purpose was not so much to concentrate on her own needs and aches but on how she could use her talents for the benefit of others. She wrote “We have homeless people in the streets, children and adults that get abused, poverty all around us and so much more and I am doing nothing to help?” For a person of fourteen years of age, this shows a lot of wisdom, a lot of maturity and certainly displays a big heart which was ready to embrace and give life to those in.
In another place she wrote, “We are at a Catholic School and we get taught to love one another as Jesus loved us. This program (which involved helping others) runs straight into this. Jesus spent his time with the people who were looked down upon”. This is precisely the second thing that hit my spirit. Sarah was a person who believed in Jesus Christ. She was prepared to seriously try to imitate Jesus Christ. Her involvement in helping others was not simply motivated by having pity on those in need or in order to look or to be considered good and kind hearted. Her motivation was much deeper. Just as Jesus Christ gave everything possible to lend a hand where it was needed. Sarah had a deep faith in what we hold important as a Catholic Community and because of her belief that the God who created her was with her all the times he was ready and eager to pan onto others whatever help or attention they needed.
Yes we all wish that she could have lived longer. Yes it would have been wonderful to see Sarah grow up and take her rightful place in society. I cannot give you a reason why this happened. However, because of our faith in Jesus Christ I am sure about one fundamental thing. The success of a life is not measured by the number of years that we live nor does it depend on what we have achieved. Success in life as we find in both the Old and the New Testament and as exemplified by Jesus Christ is measured by the quality of life that we have lived. It is measured by how much we have touched others to realize their dignity, by our openness to share the goodness that we have and by understanding that with God there is nothing in life that we cannot achieve even in the midst of anxiety, fear and difficulties. Sarah passed these qualities and we can safely say that because of her relationship with God her whole life short as it is can be encapsulated in the words of the first hymn that we sang today. “All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you”. Now do the same.
Yes there is sadness. Yes there are tears. Yes there is an inner void that is the result of a loss of a loved one. However, above everything else there is also faith and hope here. That candle, was first lit on Easter Saturday night. This Cathedral was in darkness, the only light came from that candle. We brought that candle in procession along the middle aisle. We stopped three times and every time we stopped we sang “Jesus in Our Light” and the people replied “Thanks be to God”. the people had little candles in their hands and as we stopped, they lit their little candles from this big candle to signify that we have all that we have from our God who loves us so much that He manifested Himself so powerfully in the person of Jesus Christ. On the front of the candle we find the first and the last letter of the Greek alphabet to signify that Jesus Christ in the beginning and the end. We come from Him and ultimately we are all destined to go back to him. This candle is lit at every funeral and at every baptism. Today, this candle is lit especially for Sarah. Jesus is the light for Sarah. Because of our faith there is no darkness here but light. There is no despair but hope. There is no death but life. It is because we believe that we can hear Jesus saying to Sarah, “Don’t be afraid I am here with you. You have been faithful to me. Come you whom my Father has blessed take as you reward the Kingdom that has been prepared for you from eternity for whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters you did it to me”.
My friends, all of us here are still on our journey. But one day we all have to go through this moment. This moment bleak and disturbing as sit might seem to our human eyes can be turned into a moment of triumph and power depending on how we answer this very important and basic question. What is my relationship with Jesus Christ at this very moment? If we are journeying close to him, giving him time in prayer and worship, Praise God let us keep going on this journey. But if we are living our lives distant and far from our God, my brother, my sister for our own good; decide today to pattern our lives according to His teaching and direction. Don’t worry if your faith is very minimal at the moment. Use it and it will grow. Decide now to follow Jesus. We can help you – trust ask. Just repeat with me in the quiet of your heart these words that we will be singing late on after communion. “Open my eyes Lord. Help me to see your face. Open my ears Lord. Help me to hear your voice. Open my heart Lord, Help me to love like you”.
God Bless
