Fr Paddy Byrne: Funeral director’s humanity shone brightly
The Christmas story inspires a people lost in darkness, to hope in a new light
MORE THAN 300 people recently attended the funeral of a woman in Carlow, after an appeal on social media by a funeral director who was concerned that very few people would be present.
Mary Regan (89) had lived in Carlow for several years and since the passing of her husband Fred over a year ago, the West Cork native had no next-of-kin. She also did not have many visitors to Hillview Nursing Home, where she resided.
Following her death, funeral director Rory Healy went on social media and asked the people of Carlow to spare 90 minutes of their time to attend her funeral, before she was returned home to West Cork to be buried.
‘Let's not send Mary off from Carlow alone,’ he said in his online appeal.
There is something inherently decent and kind in all our hearts. As we move closer to the Christmas celebration, often it brings out the best in human nature.
The infant Jesus and his parents Mary and Joseph made a number of journeys – to Bethlehem and then to Egypt. The innkeeper in Bethlehem was willing to compromise and to improvise. Not leastjust at Christmas, Christians today are asked to become innkeepers. They are invited to follow the light of humanity and of dignity and to make connections of grace and generosity with people just like themselves who have found that their journey has led them to Direct Provision, to emergency accommodation and to rough sleeping. The spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me; he has sent me to announce good news to the poor.
The Christmas story inspires a people lost in darkness, to hope in a new light. Shepherds, who are impoverished, a young couple, Mary and Joseph, seeking basic shelter to give birth to new life, Jesus our Saviour.
There are very few luxuries or niceties in this story. Poverty, hardship and suffering are from the beginning felt by those who facilitate the light of the Christ Child to shine. Hence the shepherds, impoverished and often hungry, are the very first to witness the hope that comes from the new life of the saviour’s birth. Despite their struggle, the presence of this child offers new hope. Transformed, their sorrow and fear can now be transcended to a beautiful confidence that, no matter what, all will be well.
The good news story that we are about to celebrate is that we are not alone. Each one of us are willed into life so that we can celebrate the powerful gift of every moment. Christmas is a time to ponder and give thanks for the gifts that we all have been blessed with. The bright promise of Christ's presence assures us to be confident that we are not alone, God is very near.
This is a time for justice, a time for renewal, a time for change. Jesus, born in great poverty to a family placed on the margins, is our source of new life, renewal, hope and confidence. Jesus feels, no doubt, the immense pain and suffering that is felt in the hearts of so many good people at this time. ‘In him we live and move and have our being.’ The gift of Christmas is to indulge in a bright light that is so much brighter than any darkness. There is no recession when it comes to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. There are no cutbacks in the unconditional love Jesus has for us all. The new life of Jesus Christ is not something that just once happened, but a promise that needs to be realised in all our lives. This is the time.
This Christmas, may we embrace what is given to us all: the opportunity to begin again. At Christmas, we pray that, through Christ, we will all be united in shared goals, to look out for and care for one another more; to help those who have less; to support those who carry heavy burdens and to be eternally grateful for the many blessings we have – today and always.
