This morning, we had the funeral mass for Matthew. We were very fortunate that St. Vincent de Paul could accommodate us and allow us to have the mass there. Father James Joy presided over the mass and said a very touching homily about Matthew.
We are humbled and moved by the attendance and outpouring of kindness. We can't thank everyone enough who supported us through their presence, gifts, and prayers. Your continued love and support has been amazing. And a special thanks to our sisters, Janine and Anh Thu, without whom this mass would not have been possible.
We didn't take any pictures, but Nonna took a few after the mass as we hung out at our house after. It means so much to have our family here.
Music
Opening Hymn: Amazing Grace
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27
Offertory Hymn: You Are Mine
Communion Hymn: On Eagle's Wings
Recessional (Closing) Hymn: Here I Am Lord
Readings
First Reading: A reading from the book of Lamentations 3:22-26
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the Lord to one who waits for him,
to the soul that seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence
for the saving help of the Lord.
The word of the Lord.
Second Reading: A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 14:7-9
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written:
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).
The word of the Lord.
Reading from the Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The gospel of the Lord.
Father Joy's Homily
An angel was so eager to see this world, created by God, his Father. So he asked God to let him join the human family, and God decided to give a gift to a wonderful family, He created seven years ago. Thus, Matthew was born. After a few moments of his life in this world, he understood that heaven is much better than this beautiful world, and he returned to his heavenly Father’s home. Matthew takes the love of his parents, Sydney and James, with him to heaven. No words can give you consolation, but please remember that now you have someone in heaven to watch over you and pray for you. Andrew lost a worldly brother, but he gained a heavenly angel.
Matthew’s death is the greatest moment of pain and reflection for all of us. It is sad. It hurts. It is unwanted and unwelcome. Even if we know that death is not unusual, and comes to every family and every circle of friends, the premature death of Matthew is unique to family and all of us, because it touches our very hearts. On this sad day, we have no answers to the question “Why should this beautiful child not be left with his family for a while longer?” The only answer to this question is to pray for peace of mind. Indeed, we have a lot of questions and doubts. We can share all our sorrows and disappointments with the Lord. When we are in pain, God feels our pain. Our tears are God’s tears also. Turn to God and ask Him to heal you, of the great hurt that you have suffered.
God does not abandon us in our time of suffering. Our suffering is not in vain, even if it is beyond our understanding. Your love for Matthew, the care you gave him, your dreams are all seen by God. Even amidst this sadness, God is filling your hearts with His blessings. When one door closes to us, our heavenly Father opens many other doors in our lives. He fills our hearts and lives with His abundant blessings.
The short life of this angel tells us that we are not the owners of our lives or the lives of our dear ones. God is the Father of every life. We don’t often think of how precious and special each one of us are in the eyes of God. Before the world was made, Matthew and each one of us were in God’s plan and loved by God. Parents are only chosen instruments in the hands of God. Do not grieve for Matthew for he is now in the hands of His heavenly Father. Matthew has completed his mission in life which is unknown to us. I am sure that our angel Matthew is happy to see the family members of Sydney and James, so united in this moment of your pain.
The great and sad mistake of many people is to imagine that those, whom death has taken, leave us. Our dead are not absent, only invisible to us. When we celebrate this Mass for this little angel, we know that Matthew is not absent, because death is not an end. Death is a part of life, but it is not the last part. Death is an open door, to a higher and more blessed way of living. Every moment and every action of this life, prepares us to live in eternal life.
I know that no words can give you consolation. Yet in prayer, let us all pray to Our Lord Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Consolation, to deliver you from every sorrow of this moment. Matthew is close to us by praying for us.
We are humbled and moved by the attendance and outpouring of kindness. We can't thank everyone enough who supported us through their presence, gifts, and prayers. Your continued love and support has been amazing. And a special thanks to our sisters, Janine and Anh Thu, without whom this mass would not have been possible.
We didn't take any pictures, but Nonna took a few after the mass as we hung out at our house after. It means so much to have our family here.
Music
Opening Hymn: Amazing Grace
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27
Offertory Hymn: You Are Mine
Communion Hymn: On Eagle's Wings
Recessional (Closing) Hymn: Here I Am Lord
Readings
First Reading: A reading from the book of Lamentations 3:22-26
The favors of the Lord are not exhausted,
his mercies are not spent;
They are renewed each morning,
so great is his faithfulness.
My portion is the Lord, says my soul;
therefore will I hope in him.
Good is the Lord to one who waits for him,
to the soul that seeks him;
It is good to hope in silence
for the saving help of the Lord.
The word of the Lord.
Second Reading: A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans 14:7-9
None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself.
For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's.
For this is why Christ died and came to life,
that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living.
For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written:
"As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bend before me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God."
So (then) each of us shall give an account of himself (to God).
The word of the Lord.
Reading from the Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30
At that time Jesus said in reply, "I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
The gospel of the Lord.
Father Joy's Homily
An angel was so eager to see this world, created by God, his Father. So he asked God to let him join the human family, and God decided to give a gift to a wonderful family, He created seven years ago. Thus, Matthew was born. After a few moments of his life in this world, he understood that heaven is much better than this beautiful world, and he returned to his heavenly Father’s home. Matthew takes the love of his parents, Sydney and James, with him to heaven. No words can give you consolation, but please remember that now you have someone in heaven to watch over you and pray for you. Andrew lost a worldly brother, but he gained a heavenly angel.
Matthew’s death is the greatest moment of pain and reflection for all of us. It is sad. It hurts. It is unwanted and unwelcome. Even if we know that death is not unusual, and comes to every family and every circle of friends, the premature death of Matthew is unique to family and all of us, because it touches our very hearts. On this sad day, we have no answers to the question “Why should this beautiful child not be left with his family for a while longer?” The only answer to this question is to pray for peace of mind. Indeed, we have a lot of questions and doubts. We can share all our sorrows and disappointments with the Lord. When we are in pain, God feels our pain. Our tears are God’s tears also. Turn to God and ask Him to heal you, of the great hurt that you have suffered.
God does not abandon us in our time of suffering. Our suffering is not in vain, even if it is beyond our understanding. Your love for Matthew, the care you gave him, your dreams are all seen by God. Even amidst this sadness, God is filling your hearts with His blessings. When one door closes to us, our heavenly Father opens many other doors in our lives. He fills our hearts and lives with His abundant blessings.
The short life of this angel tells us that we are not the owners of our lives or the lives of our dear ones. God is the Father of every life. We don’t often think of how precious and special each one of us are in the eyes of God. Before the world was made, Matthew and each one of us were in God’s plan and loved by God. Parents are only chosen instruments in the hands of God. Do not grieve for Matthew for he is now in the hands of His heavenly Father. Matthew has completed his mission in life which is unknown to us. I am sure that our angel Matthew is happy to see the family members of Sydney and James, so united in this moment of your pain.
The great and sad mistake of many people is to imagine that those, whom death has taken, leave us. Our dead are not absent, only invisible to us. When we celebrate this Mass for this little angel, we know that Matthew is not absent, because death is not an end. Death is a part of life, but it is not the last part. Death is an open door, to a higher and more blessed way of living. Every moment and every action of this life, prepares us to live in eternal life.
I know that no words can give you consolation. Yet in prayer, let us all pray to Our Lord Jesus Christ to send the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Consolation, to deliver you from every sorrow of this moment. Matthew is close to us by praying for us.
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