“Don’t fear that your life will come to an end…but that it might never have begun.” Cardinal Newman said those words many years ago.

We sometimes hear the Latin expression…carpe diem. Seize the day. Words meant to inspire us to make the most out of every moment in life.

John did that. Maybe not in the eyes of the world…but he knew what life was really about. John’s philosophy in life was enjoy the moment.

Time didn’t mean much to him….especially when it was time with family. I’me told that he could spend hours wondering in nature with grand kids.

He was a man who loved simple things. He loved to dance. He loved to sing. He was a man full of happiness. I saw this in him every time I met him.

John also lived life well in the eyes of God. He was also a man of great faith. You could tell that he loved God. Every Sunday…you’d find John in Church.

Sadly…John had to leave us. One of the worst things about loving others…is that we can loose them.

If the world were perfect, our lives would begin and end at the same time as those we love. But instead, we’re only together for a time and then we are seperated.

This is when questions we’ve often wondered about start having a deeper meaning. Questions like, “What’s next?” when as Shakespeare said, “we’ve shuffled of this mortal coil?” Is there anything more after we die?

A Chrisitian knows the answer to these questions. The gospel I just read is all about a message of hope. It speaks of the Resurrection.

We Christians are a Resurrection people. Our faith is in the Resurrection…it’s in the fact that Christ saved us …and that we can live forever.

John believed this. He had faith. His Church was something that meant a lot to him.

He would’ve believed in the promise Jesus made in the gospel I ‘ve just read where he say’s, “I’m going to prepare a place for you, and then I shall come back to take you with me….”

So while we come here in sadness today remembering our loss…we can also feel some hppiness and joy. John led a full life…and now he’s gone to God who created him.

We shouldn’t so much morn his death then… but instead celebrate his homecoming, with thanks to God for the gift he was.

John has now joined so many of his friends he knew in this life who went before him.

As we journey through life between birth and death …we travel on a road towards God. Like John…we’re all travellers …we’re travellers who know our final destiny is to meet God. Death isn’t the end…it’s a doorway

Those he leaves behind will miss him. His leaving is a loss for everyone of us … and he will certainly be missed by us here in Church.

But we can be happy for him. John spent his whole life faithfully serving God. And so, when he meets Jesus, Jesus will be able to say to him, “well done good and faithful servant.”

May his soul rest today  in the happiness of God’s home.