We heard it in the reading from lamentations “the favors of the Lord are not exhausted; His mercies are not spent but renewed each morning so great is His faithfulness. My portion is the Lord, says my soul; therefore, I will hope in Him…’’
Not only a woman of great love, but as model of hope, Lola joyfully gave hope and love to others – as a physician she was a healer. One with childlike wisdom and care, patience, sacrifice and humor.
When you see that in a woman you see the face of our blessed mother and the most Holy Spirit of her son, Jesus. Who among you in her family saw the spirit of Jesus in Lola’s life? Each of you. I am sure of it.
At her vigil last night her son, Rey, used the word amazing to describe her – ‘amazing’ in every sense of the word. That word ‘amazing’, it always expresses itself in a life of faith. That precious gift of God’s love that when received through His blessing must be given away again and again and again…. Even when it is difficult.
Faith is a gift of God. And Lola’s faith was God’s gift to her, to you and to all of those whose lives she touched again and again.
Her trust in God and her perseverance were well known. How do we know that? Because we can see her love in you, in her family. Every family reflects some measure of perseverance and the love which sustains it has only one source: the trinity of God our Father, Jesus, our Savior and the Holy Spirit.
God’s love comes with hope and a blessed humor to guide us, to encourage us, to fill us with confidence and thanksgiving. Last night Rey shared a beautiful story about Lola’s determination to drive which for her height was a challenge. Sometimes she could barely see over the steering wheel of her car, but her height was not so great a challenge that sitting on a pillow could not overcome. It may have been for reaching the brake pedal. I understand she liked to drive fast but she could see where she was going. Faith gives us that sight. It tells us that we are going to another place, just beyond our earthly eyes, over and into a new horizon where it will reach the purpose for its journey.” We heard that in John’s gospel today.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled” Jesus says. “Believe in god, believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in the father’s house. If I go to prepare a place for you. I will come again and will take you there so that where I am you may be also.” Where I am going you know the way.
Lola knew where she was going. Women and men of great faith and love always do. There is neither fear nor doubt within them. They know that beyond the earthly limits of this life is another, further than dreams and one greater than we can possibly imagine. It is very close to us in prayer and in the eucharist. Those who know it realize that this is the way of God’s love. And they live it in their love of him and for others unconditionally.
I can imagine that Lola asked God for three things in her prayers before she left: to bless her family, to guide them and to protect them. Those are the prayers of a woman of faith on her journey home with Jesus.
We are grateful to remember that love as Lola lived it, as it continues in us and the body of Christ. Now it carries her to a dwelling place just beyond our eyes into her eternal life with God.
And so today my brothers and sisters, we celebrate a new life, a story that has simply changed and leaves for us the model of Christ’s love that lived in Lola and, we pray, in each of us as well. Amen.
