I chose a reading from John's Gospel (Jn 14:1-6):
Jesus said to His disciples: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way."
Thomas said to him, "Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
I can only repeat the words of Our Lord - "Do not let your hearts be troubled..." - remarkable words spoken to His apostles the night before He died. Knowing what would soon happen to Him, He was concerned not for Himself, but for His friends:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled..."Yes, these are good words for us as well. Our hearts can be troubled, for death leaves a wound, a wound in our hearts.
I know my words will do little to heal that wound, because words are just never enough. And these words of mine will soon be forgotten. Indeed, only God's Word, God's eternal Word, doesn't perish.
But if you let Him, if you open your hearts to Him, God will fill that emptiness with His grace, bringing with it His peace and enduring love. It's through this enduring love that our merciful Lord Jesus takes Carolyn to Himself. She's now in His care and, believe me, to be in God's care is greater than anything we can imagine. Through that same love, He will grant you the peace you seek, the peace you need.
And to all the friends who have come here today, thank you for joining this family in their time of need. Your goodness and prayers are signs of God's love, signs of His presence here today.
I've conducted many funeral services, and I know that every life is precious, but today is something special, so very special, because Carolyn Moore was special, special to all of us who knew her and loved her.
For me it all began over 50 years ago when Diane and I married, and this kid from New York and New England found himself, unexpectedly, thrust into the heart of a remarkable extended family from Georgia. You know, folks, I feel a little sorry for them all because I'm the one who's been blessed while all they got from the deal was me.
Believe me, then, when I say it's truly a privilege and an honor to be here today as we say goodbye to Carolyn - but goodbye for just a little while. This dear woman lived a good, long, and full life, didn't she? 88 years, probably longer than most of us can expect.
It was a life of love, a life of family, a life of hope, and a life of perseverance through good times, hard times, times of joy, and, yes, some times of suffering and tragedy. But Carolyn was woman of faith, a woman who loved and was loved, one who was blessed and shared those blessings with others.
A few days ago, Diane handed me an article written by a friend of mine, Tony Esolen. Tony and I first met years ago when we both worked at Providence College. He taught theology, philosophy, Western Civilization, and French and Italian literature, Tony's probably the smartest person I know. In the article Tony wrote the following:
"I don't know what our schools nurse. It usually doesn't seem to be holiness. But that's what the Christian family is called to be: a seminary of love, human and divine, with its tapestry of relationships reaching out to friends, the poor and the sick, and fellow Christians, made one in the worship of God."After reading those words, Diane and I both thought of the Moore family, and especially of Carolyn. She and George, who was truly the love of her life, treated each other with the love, kindness, and respect that should typify every marriage - what an example, not only to their children, but also to all who knew them. Yes, indeed, their family was a seminary of love, a domestic church, and for this, this model of the Christian life, we should be truly grateful.
Carolyn's love for her children, her grandchildren, and now her great-grandchildren was a positive love, an uplifting love that praised them for their goodness, and encouraged them in their faith, always pointing to our Lord Jesus, "the Way, the Truth, and the Life" [Jn 14:6].
Her love extended as well to those who came before her: to her mother, Sash, her grandmother, Mama Booth, and to Mother Moore. Her love and care for them, and her goodness, were again an example for others.
800 years ago Francis of Assisi once said, "Preach the Gospel always; and when necessary use words." And that, brothers and sisters, was Carolyn, preaching the Gospel through the way of her life.
As a Christian she also knew that she must permit others to minister to her. How she loved the members of her Sunday School Class, and truly appreciated their goodness and kindness during her illness. In the same way, I expect she was the best of patients to the nurses and aides who cared for her during her rehabilitation and her final illness. I'm told they often referred to Carolyn as "the sweet one." It's so good to see them here today.
Of course Carolyn's life, like every life, was not always joyful. Indeed, she had to face times of deep sadness. Even though she witnessed the deaths of Laura and Bubba, the eldest of her children, Carolyn's faith, even in the midst of her grief, remained strong, once again providing the love, support, and strength her family needed.
And I expect, too, that George's death four years ago was especially difficult for her. They were two who had lived as one for so long, and yet the challenge his absence presented was a challenge she came to accept...but again it was an acceptance in faith.
Yes, indeed, Carolyn Moore's life calls to mind the promise Jesus made when He said: "...everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life..." [Jn 6:40].
You see, brothers and sisters, as Christians, we all "see the Son" - we see Him here in each other, especially when we serve each other and others in need. As Jesus reminds us, "...whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me" [Mt 25:40].
This, brothers and sisters, is what it means to see the Son, to see our Lord Jesus Christ in everyone we meet. And this is how Carolyn lived her life: caring for others, no matter who they were, showering them with God's love.
Again, those words of Jesus: "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me" [Jn 14:1]. This is our calling as Christians: to see the Son, and to believe. And through her life Carolyn showed us what it means to live our faith. We are, quite simply, called to love.
God's love turns life's trials, its challenges, its sorrows, its illnesses...it turns them into blessings - for as St. Paul taught us, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God..." [Rom 8:28].
God's love overcomes all, even death, making it merely a gateway to eternal life. And once we accept this, once we actually come to believe this truth of our faith, then our understanding of God's precious gift of life undergoes an almost miraculous transformation. Indeed, we come to realize that everything is a gift for those who believe, because God turns all to good.
Sadly, so many in our world today don't believe. Unable to accept that God created them in love, they turn to self-love. But Carolyn and her family, in their quiet and sometimes not-so-quiet ways, have told the world how wrong it is.
And so today we can celebrate this woman's life, while also realizing that the time we're sharing here today is primarily an act of worship, worship in the form of thanksgiving. Sisters and brothers, this is a time of thanksgiving - right now in this place - a time when we turn to our loving and merciful God to thank Him for the unique, unrepeatable gift of Carolyn Moore and the times we were all blessed to share with her.
But more importantly, as Christians, whenever we gather in prayer, we thank our God for the gift of His Son, Who gave His life for us. For without that gift, we would have no hope -- no hope of forgiveness, no hope of mercy, no hope of salvation, no hope of eternal life.
It's because of this gift that we can gather here today and not be consumed by grief.
It's because of this gift we can go on with our own lives knowing that Carolyn, and you, and I, that we've all been redeemed by our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Yes, Jesus is here with us because as faith-filled Christians we gather in His name. And in His presence He offers us His peace, and the wonderful consolation that He has prepared a place for Carolyn.
Last Wednesday morning, as He called her to Himself, God blessed her with a peaceful death. And it was peaceful. As we gathered around her during those final moments of her life on earth, we all sensed God's presence, God's peace. The struggle ceased, and as she closed her eyes to this world, she entered eternity in the peace promised by her Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Carolyn now rests in His loving embrace. He has taken away the pain, wiped away the tears, and given her the first taste of that eternal joy we all hope to share.
In baptism Carolyn died with Christ and rose with Him to new life; may she now share with Him eternal glory.
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