Allen P. Peña, SSS Homiletics 4
March 8, 2011
Funeral Homily: Jn. 14 1-6
There is No place Like Home!
Home is a place of rest. Kahit anuman ang ating trabaho at ginagawa. We return home after that. In fact, everyone longs to return home. Because, we enjoy rest and we enjoy our home which is our own. Heaven is our true home. It is to this home Jesus says he is going, and it is to this home he promises us that he will take us. And he tells us that there are many rooms in his Father’s home. That means, there is place for everyone in Father’s House.
It is to this place of rest that Peter reached, after his long search of what life is. His gifts and achievements as a father to 5 children, as a good husband, a responsible co-worker and a religious leader have given as an example of a Christian life that is worth living. But Peter had become restless of searching the meaning of life and had become wearied bodily for a higher pursuit of meaning. Our hearts are restless, until they rest in God. And that is why we pray now. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
We who are left here in the world, Let us not be confused like Thomas in the Gospel where he says ‘We do not know where you are going….” Because we as Christians do know where Peter is going. Let us assist with our prayers, so that her passage from this life to the next life may be smooth.
With his death we experience pain, the pain of separation. Alalahanin natin na, si Peter ay sumakabilang buhay lamang. Ang katawan lamang niya ang nawala sa mundong ito at siya ay patuloy na nabubuhay kapiling ng Diyos. Bagamat masakit tanggapin ang kanyang pagkawala, ang kanyang alalaala ang patuloy na bubuhay sa inyong mga puso. At hindi niya nais na kayo’y nalulungkot sa kanyang pagkawala bagkus siya ngayon ay masaya na sa kanyang tahanan, sa kanyang kapahingahan. Ang inyong mga panalangin ang tutulong sa kanya upang maging ganap ang kanyang katahimikan at kaligayahan sa langit. At sa Eukaristiyang ito na iniaalay natin para sa kanya ay isang ganap na pagpapahayag ng ating pagmamahal sa kanya.
There is no other place like Home… sabi nga. Home is where we enjoy our rest. Heaven is our own Home with God.
