Over the decades I have celebrated and attended many funerals, including the rites of Christian Burial (to use the formal name) for many priests.
It is relatively rare for the eulogies and homilies given at these funerals to get to the heart of the matter. Very often the focus is on the earthly achievements of the person with stories told of grandad’s golf and grandma’s baking, of Father’s Monday hobbies and parish organisational skills.
Very often a person of great faith is buried without a mention of their great faith.
One funeral last week was very different.
Anton McLean was a diocesan priest who had made his home in recent years among the people of my home diocese of Christchurch. I had great love and respect for Anton, and was not surprised when a Press obituary referred to him as “a friend of Jesus.”
There is no greater praise for a priest – or for any person.
I thought you might like to hear one of the most powerful funeral homilies I have ever heard for a priest.
While John was sharing a eulogy rather than a homily it is my hope and prayer that we might learn both from Anton’s life and from John’s reflection to seek more passionately (as Anton did) the ultimate relationship with (as Anton reflected in the title of his book – available at this link) Jesus A Friend Within.
