Homily for funeral of Michael Anthony Shanny, 13th January 2009

Scripture refs:
Thessalonians 4:13-18 (We shall stay with the Lord forever);
John 11:17-27 (I am the resurrection and the life).

Yesterday the Church kept the memory of an English saint from the 12th century. St Aelred was
abbot of the Cistercian Abbey of Rievaulx, not far from the city of York. He spoke and wrote much
about true charity, of love of God, and friendship.

He wrote: “God Himself is friendship, he who dwells in friendship, dwells in God and God in him.”

Clearly, Tony knew something about friendship. In the weeks since his death, so many have offered
support to Mary and the family. Parishioners have requested Masses for the repose of his soul, and
have helped to prepare the church. A little detail that speaks volumes: the modest floral decoration
of the paschal candle, something which is usually overlooked when preparing what is necessary for
the funeral.

And yesterday, so many were present at the vigil and reception of the body, and today a packed
church at Tony’s funeral.

These ties of friendship are blessed by God, particularly when they lead to Him. Tony, together with
his wife Mary, was a devout man, they were a devout couple. They came to Mass, they said their
prayers, they raised their family in the Catholic faith. They were friends of God.

I know many of you have personal memories of a man who was proud of his Irish roots and his love
of Irish songs which he would sing needing little persuasion to do so. And also of his love of sport,
particularly of hurling and gaelic football.

All those fond memories are treasures for his family and friends that should help us to give thanks to
God who is the source and origin of all gifts, particularly the gift of friendship.

Tony died on the morning of Friday 19th December. It was early that morning that I was woken by
the insistent ringing of the doorbell. In a somewhat confused state I went to the door and saw two
surly-looking characters in the dark at the door. Living on one’s own, one doesn’t unlock doors
unless one is sure it is safe to do so. So I switched on the lights and there were Gerard and his son
Matthew, Gerard shouting through the glass that his father had died and could I come over. Which I
gladly did.

Together we commended Tony’s soul to God, praying for the forgiveness of his sins.

Although we know that death is inevitable, the time and manner of it should never be in our hands.
It is for God to choose the time of our calling home. Obviously the time of Tony’s death was not
expected as Carmel was at that moment in the air en route to Australia to meet up with her
daughter Hannah. Her Christmas holiday certainly was not how she planned it.

It was the time of Advent, when the Church prepares for two things: the celebration of Christmas,
the anniversary of Christ’s coming to earth; and Christ’s return at the end of time.
In that last week of Advent particularly, the Church is saying: Come Emmanuel. And in the evening
prayer of the Church the night of Tony’s death, the Church had prayed:

“O Adonai and leader of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning
bush and you gave him the Law on Sinai. Come and redeem us with outstretched
arm.”

In that season of preparing for the Lord’s return, if, as we may hope, Tony died in a state of
preparedness for the coming of Christ, then the Church’s prayer that Christ would come with
outstretched arm may have been answered for Tony that night.

When we come to celebrate a funeral we go back to ‘Advent’ mode; we are put in mind of our own
mortality, and reminded that the Lord will come for us at a time of his choosing. We await that
coming.

St Paul today tells us about the nature of Christian grieving. “We believe that Jesus died and rose
again, and that it will be the same for those who have died in Jesus: God will bring them with him.”

The early Christians lived in expectation of an imminent return of Christ to bring an end to the world.
St Paul tells them not to worry about such things. The important thing is to die in Christ. If we die in
Christ we shall rise with him. But to die in Christ, we must live in Christ, believe in Christ, hope in
Christ, love Christ.

The Gospel relates the account of the dialogue between Martha and Jesus following the death of her
brother Lazarus. Martha professes her faith in the resurrection: “I know he will rise again at the
resurrection on the last day.” But Jesus leads her further:

“I am the resurrection and the life.

If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live,
and whoever lives and believes in me
will never die.
Do you believe this?”

Martha replies:

“Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the
world.”

Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world?

Did Tony believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into the world?

To believe this is to live in Christ, so that we may die in Christ and so rise with Him.

We recall that Tony was born on 11th February, feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Mary prays for us
particularly at the hour of our death.

We offer this sacrifice of the Mass in which Christ’s death on the Cross is made present for us, so
that the forgiveness of sins Christ won for us from the Cross may be granted in all its fullness to our
departed brother in Christ, Michael Anthony Shanny. May he rest in peace.