So, because my wish list for 2024 went unfulfilled on, well, pretty much every level (at least as far as the church is concerned), I have decided to simply resubmit it as writ and change the date. I mean, a girl can still hope!
However, aside from bellyaching about it, I have decided to explain why it is I am currently taking some time to plan out my funeral.
After telling a family member that the Gospel reading for the First Sunday of Advent was included in a top-five list of Gospel selections for my funeral, she raised an eyebrow. “Spend a lot of time thinking about your funeral, do you?”
Well, yes, I do, because my funeral will be the last chance I’ll have to tell people what I want them to know! And that Gospel reading reminds us that life can be frightening, but there is consolation and rescue; the world can lead us astray nearly every day, but we will all get to stand before the Son of Man, who we know is True Justice and True Mercy.
My family member took a pass. “It’s too scary, what’s number one on your hit list?”
“Oh, the parable of the Prodigal Son,” I enthused. “A reminder that while the imperfectly penitent child was ‘still a long way off,’ the father came running out to greet him, embraced and kissed him” (Lk 15:20-24). “People might think, ‘well, Lizzie really was still a looong way off, but the Father is merciful…’”“I like that,” she enthused. “So, you might not go to hell! And there’s always Purgatory, right?”
“See? Don’t you already feel better about me dying?”
“I really do,” she nodded. “I can’t wait to hear what else you want me to know!”
Did you hear that? She “can’t wait” for my funeral. The thing is, I have cool things I really do want to “say” to the people I love, in that moment.
But here is the thing…
You can read it all at Our Sunday Visitor. Meanwhile, Merry Christmas! And God bless us all! And here’s to our Catholic Wish List, and our best laid plans!
This is where we kick up the Auld Lang Syne!
Or, perhaps, since I’m talking funerals, here, perhaps this is even better:
