Funeral Homily for a Veteran - The Grain of Wheat (Wisdom 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; John 12:23-28)

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear family of [Name], fellow veterans, dear friends, brothers and sisters in Christ:

The flag that covers [Name] today says something about his life. He served his country. He accepted discipline, hardship and danger for the sake of others. Some of you served beside him and know things about those years that the rest of us never will. Some of you knew him only afterward, as a husband, father, neighbor and friend, and perhaps he rarely spoke about what he had seen.

The Church honors that service. The Catechism teaches that those who serve their country in the armed forces are "servants of the security and freedom of nations" and, when they carry out their duty honorably, "truly contribute to the common good." Today, though, we gather not only to honor a soldier. We gather to commend a child of God to the Lord of life.

In the hand of God

The Book of Wisdom says: "The souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them." It also says that God tested them "as gold in the furnace."

Many veterans carry memories that few people ever hear. Some carry wounds that do not show. Whatever [Name] carried from his service, and from the rest of his life, we place it now into the hand of God, where no torment can reach.

If we have died with him, we shall also live with him

Saint Paul writes to Timothy from prison, as an old soldier of Christ writing to a younger one: "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead." Then he quotes an early Christian hymn: "If we have died with him we shall also live with him; if we persevere we shall also reign with him... if we are unfaithful he remains faithful."

That last line is the foundation of our hope today. We do not rest our hope on our own faithfulness, which is always imperfect. We rest it on Christ, who "remains faithful." So we pray for [Name] with confidence, asking God to forgive his sins and to welcome him into the peace that no war can disturb.

The grain of wheat

In the Gospel, Jesus says: "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit." He was speaking of his own death on the cross, the greatest act of self-giving love in history.

Every life given in service for others shares something of that pattern. Those who serve accept that they may have to give up their safety, their comfort, even their lives, so that others may live in peace. Many veterans returned home, but they left part of themselves behind: their youth, their innocence, friends who did not come back. That self-giving is a seed. Its fruit is the freedom and safety enjoyed by people who will never know their names.

Jesus also says: "Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me." That is our prayer for [Name] today: that, having served, he may be where Christ is, and be honored by the Father.

Carrying on his service

The best way to honor a veteran is to live in a way worthy of the peace he helped to protect. Care for the veterans among us, especially those who struggle with the invisible wounds of service. Pray for peace in the world. Be faithful to your own duties, at home and at work, as he was faithful to his.

In a few moments, at this altar, we will celebrate the sacrifice of Christ, the one sacrifice that brings true and lasting peace. Here we commend [Name] to the Lord, who is the Prince of Peace.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.