Funeral Homily: Maria Dolores Tovar. January 21, 2022

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 We are gathered here today to mourn the loss of our beloved sister, Maria Dolores and to celebrate her passage from this world into the next. She suffered in her health for some time and is now released from those troubles. She is on her way to the heavenly kingdom. Within the same day of her death, her grandson Edgar Alonso was also called back to the Lord suddenly. This is a tough time for the Tovar family.

No words can soothe your sorrows, no consolation can comfort your pain. Only God knows what you are going through and only He can grace you with the strength to embrace this time of sadness and help you go through it with faith.

In the first reading taken from the book of Wisdom, we look at human suffering. In many cultures, suffering is seen as a punishment or curse, a lack of blessings.

But for all of us who have faith in Jesus Christ, we know that suffering can be a saving grace. God did not cause the suffering, He allows it to happen. Therefore, it must have some good for our souls. God wants only what is good for us.

Jesus, who is God, went through tremendous suffering and a terrible death. Did he commit a crime, a sin, a wrongdoing? No. He did so much good, healed so many people. He is God, yet He did not avoid suffering and death, but embraced it and went through it with love.

So, the only way for us to face our sufferings, is to do what Jesus did. Embrace and go through it with love. Let God grace us just as He graced Jesus.

In the Gospel text, Jesus promised that in His Father’s house there are many dwelling places. There is a dwelling place for Maria and Edgar, for you and for me.

Whatever happens in this life, everyone who believes in Christ, will have a place in eternity. So, no matter how sad or broken we feel now, we must believe and look forward to this promise.

Maria lived a simple faithful life. She married in Santiago in 1954 and raised ten wonderful children in the faith. She loved plants and animals, especially birds. She was a simple and beautiful soul.

Maria was a baptized Catholic. She received the Holy Eucharist regularly - I was told she had never missed any Sunday mass. She will rise again to new life. Maria will be praying for us.

We too pray for Maria, that God will speed her to paradise and be merciful to her soul. As friends and family who grieve our separation from her for now, we look forward to the day when we will meet again, in God’s house, when the mercy and love of God conquers everything, including death. Amen.


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