Below is the text of the homily I preached at my mom's funeral Mass homily. My mom's entrance into eternal life was a beautiful journey. I share this you because I believe it is important that we see how God is at work in every single moment. Thank you everyone for your continued prayers for my mom and our family.
“Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day”
Last week I had the privilege of being by my mom’s side as she was preparing for her journey into eternal life. I remember kneeling on the floor beside the bed, much like she would do for me when I was sick as a child. It was then I told her that it was ok to let go. Her eyes opened wide, it was then I asked her if she was sorry for all her sins and gave her the Apostolic Pardon. Finally I asked her, mom do you love me. Her response was “no.” Either in that moment she did not lose her sense of humor or she thought I was my dad. That was Thursday.
All last week I tried to maintain much of my regular schedule as I possibly could. Friday morning was the children’s Mass. Now I will admit between traveling back and forth from the nursing home to the parish I did not really look at the Gospel for Friday morning. I decided I was going to preach with the help of the Holy Spirit. So as I stepped up to ambo to proclaim the Gospel it was only then did I realize I was proclaiming John chapter six “the Bread of Life Discourse.”
As a priest I have proclaimed this particular Gospel passage numerous times, but this time it was different. Something profound hit me when I read these words, “Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” It was at the moment I heard a voice say, “Keith, celebrate Mass with your mom.” One could think that would be common sense, Father you are a priest, however for the longest time I couldn’t because she didn’t have the attention span with her struggle with dementia and pain. For the most part I did the simple form of giving her communion outside of Mass. However, as I proclaimed that passage I felt the Holy Spirit knock some sense into me and that’s when I made the decision that after confession I would go to the nursing home to celebrate Mass at her side.
At the nursing home I set up and altar using her portable dining tray, and was joined by my aunt, brother, and dad. Once again at Mass I anointed my mom a sacrament she received plenty of times in the past couple weeks. When it came to communion I broke a tiny piece of the host off and dipped into the Precious Blood and placed our Lord under her tongue. My mother received Holy Communion for the final time, spiritual nourishment for the journey home.
For me I knew it was only a matter of time and was at peace with it. Around 1 pm my mom’s breathing became more labored and I knew it was time to call my sister. Around 1:50 my sister arrived and we gathered around mom, telling her once again that it was ok to let go. I remember telling my mom “to go home, it’s time, we will be ok.” At some point I got up and opened the blinds to allow the sunshine into the room. My dad, brother, sister, and I stood right next to the bed in her line of sight and one by one told her again that we loved her. It was at that point a little after 2 pm my mom breathed her last breaths looking directly at us.
My mom, Doris E. Carroll entered into eternal life peacefully surrounded by her husband Keith Miley of 49 years and her three children (my sister Anne Marie her first born, her baby boy Kevin, and lastly her middle child…me, the one who kept offering her the get out of jail free cards.) Her mental and physical pains were now over. While it may sound odd to hear, she had a beautiful peaceful entrance into eternal life. I truly believe the hand of God was at work at every moment. It is important we keep praying for the repose of her soul, but I will say this she suffered a lot the past couple years. Although her outer Body was wasting away as we heard in the Second Reading from II Corinthians, her sufferings produced an eternal weight of glory. Between her suffering and the numerous times I administered the sacrament of the Holy Anointing I think I can say with pretty good authority our good Lord took that into account. From this moment forward my mom joins me at every Mass in a unique and special way around the altar of sacrifice.
Physical death is hard. There is sadness because now there is a physical void in our lives. However, we move forward in faith knowing that life is changed not ended. She carried the light of Christ to others. As we remember her in our prayers at this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, let us follow her example and place our trust in Jesus. My mother lived for and died with the Lord and as we receive Jesus in our hearts either through His word, Eucharist, or both, may we ask Him for the grace and strength that we may persevere to that day when we too will experience eternal life and be raised up! As we heard in the end of today’s Gospel, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father accept through me. My mom’s entrance into eternal life came through the Son our Lord Jesus Christ in the most Holy Eucharist. Indeed it was the Lord who raised her on her last day.