Mary A. Briscar

LITURGY OF THE WORD
Wis. 3:1-9

A reading from the book of Wisdom

The souls of the just are in the hand of God,
and no torment shall touch them.
They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead;
and their passing away was thought an affliction
and their going forth from us, utter destruction.
But they are in peace.
For if before men, indeed, they be punished,
yet is their hope full of immortality;
Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble;
The shall judge nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord shall be their King forever.
Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love;
Because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect. 

This is the Word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Revelation
Rev. 21:1-5, 6-7

There will be no more death

I, John, saw new heavens and a new earth.  The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer.  I also saw a new Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down out of heaven from God, beautiful as a bride prepared to meet her husband.  I heard a loud voice from the throne cry out: “This is God’s dwelling among men.  He shall dwell with them and they shall be his people and he shall be their God who is always with them.  He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away.”

The One who sat on the throne said to me, “See, I make all things new! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.  To anyone who thirsts I will give to drink without cost from the spring of life-giving water.  He who wins the victory shall inherit these gifts; I will be his God and he shall be my son.”

 This is the Word of the Lord. 

As Mother’s oldest child, I would have to say that I had gotten to know her very well.  I know what she liked and what she didn’t like. What she didn’t like is no longer important. What Mother liked was important. 

Mother Liked: 

Dad -  Oh, did she love Dad. 

Mother Liked: 

Detective Magazines, The Foresters, The CWV, The 250 Club, Dave Telban’s band, Joe Okorn’s band, The polka bands that played at St. Vitus and the Slovenian Audutorium, The farm she lived on as a child, Fishing with Dad, Jokes, Sunday family dinner, Playing cards, Her “store” at Euclid Beach Villa, Turquoise jewelery, Sewing, Police radio, Kmart, Wal-Mart, Vacations at Catawba , The Youghiogheny River, Holidays, Family celebrations, Cheesecake, Telling stories, Reading, Wallpapering, Arts and Crafts, and much more. 

But there was something Mother treasured more than anything – her Pride and Joy:

 Her Grandchildren 

 A photograph of each grandchild held a place of honor on Mother’s wall.  Each grandchild bought joy to her heart.  Each one was special. Each one has become successful in life’s journey.  Some have had to overcome insurmountable obstacles in their lives, but in part, because of Mother’s undying inspiration, they have succeeded.  They have made our Mother proud! 

Let us not forget the spouses of the grandchildren, all of whom she loved so much – Bob, Maureen, Dave, Mary, Sandy, Becki, and Josh. 

Several of the grandchildren started families of their own, and brought new joy into Mother’s heart in the form of her Great Grandchildren: 

 Mother’s refrigerator had become a place of honor, adorned with photographs of the great grandchildren.  Not much room left on the walls, their photographs were everywhere.  Mother never forgot a birthday, making sure each of the children received his or her ten dollar check in a card that, in true Baba fashion, was not always a birthday card.  But she always remembered, and each child still has at least one of Mother’s two-dollar bills.   

She has given much.  And now we have given her back to the Lord.