Homily

Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

I do not know when delivering a eulogy for a deceased person became a common practice at funerals, especially Catholic funerals. Nevertheless, in all the funerals I have been asked to celebrate or have been invited to attend, ninety-five percent have included at least one eulogy – sometimes two or three, and occasionally even five or six if the deceased person’s family had many children or grandchildren.

A dictionary defines eulogy as follow: “a speech or piece of writing that praises someone or something highly, especially a tribute to someone who has just died.” It derives from Latin eulogium, eulogia (from Greek eulogia ‘praise’), apparently influenced by Latin elogium ‘inscription on a tomb’ (from Greek elegia ‘elegy’). The current sense dates from the late 16th century.

Indeed, at funerals, surviving family members and friends often recount positive and carefully chosen stories about the deceased, bringing back cherished memories they shared with them. This serves not only to commemorate the person but also to pay tribute to them, honour them, and celebrate their life. What is it that they honour? In the case of a friend, it may be the strong friendship they shared; in the case of an aunt or uncle, it may be the meaningful relationship they fostered; and in the case of a parent, it may be everything, including the profound love, care, nurturing, and sacrifices they offered throughout their life.

Listening to these eulogies, I often hear expressions of pride and a desire to be inspired by the way the deceased lived, related to others, and what they achieved in life. Of course, the focus is not merely on worldly success, but rather on the outstanding and admirable character and virtues they embodied.

I am often advised to be humble, as humility is a very important virtue for human development and growth. Being humble involves having a proper awareness of who we are; acknowledging both our strengths and weaknesses, our talents and shortcomings. However, the kind of pride mentioned above is a good thing. It is not pride in the arrogant or egotistical sense; rather, it is taking pride in being inspired by the values, qualities, and even achievements reflected in another person’s life.

This kind of pride is beautiful because it helps us grow in gratitude and appreciation for life. It encourages us to recognise and celebrate what is good, noble, and virtuous in others, and in doing so, it helps to form and strengthen our own character.

In his letter to the Romans, with the extract that we have for this week, St Paul uses even a stronger word: “boast”. He encourages his community that they should boast about the love of God through Jesus. Paul explains: “very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Because of the sacrifice of Christ, we receive the grace of God through love and that allows us to be in a wonderful relationship with God, therefore and for this very reason, we should boast, of course not in an arrogant way but in gratitude and appreciation.

If the first reading reminds us to respond to God’s love by listening to his voice and adhering to his covenant, through the image of God delivering the people of Israel from the land of slavery into the Promised Land, and if the Gospel reminds us to respond to God’s mercy by serving one another without charge, then St Paul’s Letter to the Romans encourages us to respond to God’s grace by boldly proclaiming and rejoicing in his love. In other words, we are called to “boast” in the Lord – not in an arrogant or self-centred way, but by being unafraid to speak of, celebrate, and bear witness to the great love that God has shown us in Jesus Christ.

By Fr Sang Ho