A funeral homily as a proclamation of Christian hope Cover Image

Homilia pogrzebowa głoszeniem chrześcijańskiej nadziei
A funeral homily as a proclamation of Christian hope

Author(s): Krzysztof Szwarc
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion
Published by: Katolicki Uniwersytet Lubelski Jana Pawła II - Wydział Teologii
Keywords: Funeral homily; experience of death; Christian hope; love with God; Christ; Eucharist

Summary/Abstract: The article takes up the subject of foretelling hope in one of the most difficult human experiences – during a funeral, in a gathering of the nearest people, who experience the separation of their intimates, and search for a true conversation on what they really think and feel, while being in pain, in separation, and in disappointment. That is why the article initially tries to diagnose the present condition of hope, then it assists in thinking over the issue of seeking hope out of crisis human experiences. To some extent these experiences measure our hope, they allow us to get to know ourselves, and pass from a declaratory level of our life to an existential one, in the intimacy of faith and love with God, as a destination of our life’s way. Furthermore, the article pays attention to the fact that the funeral homily should open the ceremony participants to the presence of Jesus Christ, as a priceless ground on the human way of life, where hope can be discovered. By explaining the Scriptures, a story of our life and breaking bread for us, He overcomes death and allows us to see our own life in a new way. In the experience of death, He resuscitates the hope of life, inclining beyond a passing history of a temporality. He allows us to open eyes and unbind ears from our own experiences, becoming a key to the door which conceals the revealed truth, and throwing a light of hope on the most crushing experience of human life, which - thanks to the Presence of Jesus - can be read outloud as our own Passover, our own history of salvation in Him. This all becomes possible thanks to Christ, being present during the Eucharist in His Word and in His Body.

  • Issue Year: 2011
  • Issue No: 15
  • Page Range: 93-106
  • Page Count: 14
  • Language: Polish