Recently my dear Grandpa Edward has passed away. I wished I could celebrate his funeral Mass but it wasn’t to happen. I couldn’t go all the way to be with the family. However the first blessing I was given was the spiritual closeness with those at the funeral, as at the time of the funeral Mass celebrated by our PP back in our home parish in Poland I was celebrating Eucharist here in Australia. I could tell how powerful the belief in the communion of Saints is. Although separated by thousands of kilometers I felt as there was no distance between us. The same Jesus Christ around whom my family gathered in Poland was at the altar where I was celebrating the Eucharist. Our Founder St Eugene de Mazenod told his first Oblates to go before the Blessed Sacrament if they felt lonely so that they could experience the closeness with Eugene and all the other Missionary Oblates. The Blessed Sacrament was the means of unity and closeness of those who were separated from each other by big distances. However I believe that the Eucharist also bridges our world and the Eternal Kingdom of the Lord where our departed are. That quiet Mass I celebrated at Midnight was “shouting” about the joy of those who are in heaven and pray for us here on Earth.
A few day ago I was watching of an Episode of “Catholicism Series”. The episode I was watching was about Jesus’ Resurrection. I love the way Fr Barron proclaims the message. It is so passionate and faith-filled. Anyway, I was watching it and reflecting on those great hopes of our life in Jesus when on my laptop I heard the sound of an incoming email. Well, instead of continuing watching the program I went to check my email box. It was a message form a cousin of mine who sent me photos from my Grandpa’s Funeral. My mind and heart were still full of images and message about the Resurrection and eternal life when I started opening files with pictures of the burial. It was the second blessing I was given. I was looking at those photos with such faith. This time the photos were “shouting” about eternal life, about communion of Saints, about communion of those on Earth and those in heaven. As I looked at the picture of my family gathered at the grave where my Dad, my Great-Grandparents and Grandpa Edward are interred my thoughts went to that summer day a few years ago when I was at home and took a picture of the family. I didn’t think about comparing them in terms who is missing but rather I thought of them as expressing the same truth that even death cannot separate those who hold fast to their faith in Jesus.
I think that it is a good way to explain what the evangelization is all about: filling people’s hearts and minds with the images and message of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, so that they could look at various situations in their daily life with hope and confidence which only Jesus can give.
A few day ago I was watching of an Episode of “Catholicism Series”. The episode I was watching was about Jesus’ Resurrection. I love the way Fr Barron proclaims the message. It is so passionate and faith-filled. Anyway, I was watching it and reflecting on those great hopes of our life in Jesus when on my laptop I heard the sound of an incoming email. Well, instead of continuing watching the program I went to check my email box. It was a message form a cousin of mine who sent me photos from my Grandpa’s Funeral. My mind and heart were still full of images and message about the Resurrection and eternal life when I started opening files with pictures of the burial. It was the second blessing I was given. I was looking at those photos with such faith. This time the photos were “shouting” about eternal life, about communion of Saints, about communion of those on Earth and those in heaven. As I looked at the picture of my family gathered at the grave where my Dad, my Great-Grandparents and Grandpa Edward are interred my thoughts went to that summer day a few years ago when I was at home and took a picture of the family. I didn’t think about comparing them in terms who is missing but rather I thought of them as expressing the same truth that even death cannot separate those who hold fast to their faith in Jesus.
I think that it is a good way to explain what the evangelization is all about: filling people’s hearts and minds with the images and message of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, so that they could look at various situations in their daily life with hope and confidence which only Jesus can give.
My Family after Grandpa's Funeral.
The family a few years ago. If we belief in Jesus there is no missing person and all live in Christ in his Kingdom.
Christmas 2013. My first Christmas with the Family after 10 years in Australia. I didn't know that it was to be the last time I saw Grandpa.
2002: the year of my priestly ordination and the year of the Golden Jubilee of my Grandparents. They were blessed to have 61 years together.
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