In memory of Anne Marie Thomas, September 29, 1926 - December 31, 2003.
For the believers gathered here, it is important for us to reflect on the spiritual life of our deceased friend and relative.
Belief in God is the minimum requirement for entrance into heaven. After all, how can we expect to see God with our eyes if we did not see him with our minds? We look for evidence of a person's belief in God in their lifestyle. Grandmom was not a traditional believer: she did not go to church. However, her house was decorated with hanging rosaries, small statues, and wall-mounted prayers. These externals were not disconnected from her actions. She once asked me to buy her St. Anne prayer cards. One of them replaced her old one, worn by frequent use; the others she gave to her friends. But even this routine cannot bring us to heaven if we lack love, since it is love that unites a soul to God. Everyone who was welcomed into her home can answer this last inquiry. She hardly let someone leave her house without a small bag of fruit, rolls, or other goodies. This practice, sometimes a little annoying, is indicative of her generous spirit. It was her own way of pouring herself out for her neighbor, just as Christ, the One sent by God, pours Himself out in the Communion chalice for His people.
It is appropriate for the grandchildren here that she was devoted to St. Anne, the mother of the Virgin Mary, and therefore the grandmother of Jesus Christ. Let us pray that these two grandmothers will embrace in the kingdom of heaven and together behold their God.
Finally, we must understand that Grandmom is not caught up in some divine ecstasy or enjoying an eternal nap. Now that she beholds God Who is love, her heart is all the more on fire with love of us. We should acknowledge this reality by pausing in the difficult moments of life and commending them to the care of our heavenly friend, grandmother, mother, and wife. Amen.