Published: October 20, 2006 11:34 am            

Funeral Homily of John C. Gatz — Mass of Christian Burial

Condolences: Chris and Kathy; Katie and David; John’s grandparents, Nell, Janice and Lee; All of John’s Aunts and Uncles and cousins . . .

Our prayers also go out to the Providence family, to John’s classmates in a special way, and to our own Sacred Heart Family, especially the class of 2004.

Last night after everyone had left Church,

I went to my office to begin working on this homily.

I had some thoughts; I had some ideas about what I wanted to say . . .

But not sure about how to put the words together . . .

I would imagine some of you have been in that situation in the last few days —

As you’ve talked among yourselves feeling like all the words you were saying just weren’t adequate . . . somehow the words fell short.

And so I went over to Church for a little bit,

And I remembered the Communion of Saints ...

And I threw up a little prayer to John ...

Who now stands shoulder to shoulder with angels and saints,

And I said, “Hey John, tap the Holy Spirit on the shoulder and tell him to send

A little bit of something to me ... and to us to help us cope.”

Three scripture passages come to my mind this day

Not surprisingly, they come from the Gospel of John.

The first is John 10:10

I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.

John Christopher Gatz lived 16 short years,

But he lived an abundant life.

Whether he was acting goofy with some of his friends ...

Or doing a cannonball and getting disqualified from the swim meet.

John lived an abundant life each time he got a great idea

And you know how his eyes would get real big —

And he’d say, “Wait, let’s do it like this.”

John was a Boy Scout — a member of our Troop 89 right here at Sacred Heart.

John had just recently sent in the paperwork for his Eagle Scout Award.

Everything was complete and he was awaiting his Eagle Board of Review.

I’m pleased to say the Eagle Scout Award he earned,

was given to Chris and Kathy yesterday.

There was no middle ground for John ...

If he chose to do it, he gave it his best.

When John was in 8th grade, he thought the youth Center needed a better TV.

He asked me if we could approach the Parent’s club about buying one.

I said, “sure ...” And John went to work.

He researched and he studied ... he compared prices and quality ...

And when he approached the parent’s club, he gave everyone a packet of his research,

And he explained the pros and cons of each model, answered their questions,

And the TV sits in the youth center today.

“I came that you might have life and have it abundantly.”

John Gatz lived an abundant life.

The second passage I share with you today is on the front of your worship aid.

John 5:35 “John was a lamp that gave off brilliant light.

For a time you enjoyed the pleasure of his light.”

John was a light to us, indeed a brilliant light ...

He was a light to us because he showed all of us how to live.

He was a great student — not just because he was smart, but also because he worked hard.

He was a light because he when he gave himself to something,

he gave himself completely.

When John chose to do something, he was passionate about it.

When he got involved in theater at Providence, it was 110 percent.

Swimming at Providence 110 percent.

Confirmation leader, Summer Daze leader here at Sacred Heart 110 percent.

Photography 110 percent.

And in his love for his family,

And in his friendships with you ...

John Gatz always gave 110 percent.

John was a light to us, in part, in large part,

Because John chose to live life without resulting to drugs and alcohol.

John showed us you can enjoy life ... you can live it to the fullest ...

Without alcohol ... without drugs ...

Can we learn that lesson? Can we learn from John?

You know I’ve heard a lot of people say they aren’t angry.

But you know what, there is a part of me that is angry!

I’m angry that a horrible choice has left my friend John dead.

I’m angry because I know that even this coming weekend

Some in this Church may make that choice again.

I’m not just angry at young people who drink and drive ...

I’m angry at adults who do the same.

I’m angry at a society that says, it’s okay to get drunk as long as you don’t drive

Because you know what — it’s not okay to get drunk — 

It doesn’t matter if you are 16 years old or if you are 96 years old ...

You see, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit ...

And whenever you drink too much, you defile that temple.

I’m angry that our friend John ... who gave off that brilliant light ...

Has had that light go out.

But the question I must ask myself ...

And the question that perhaps you must ask yourself ...

Is how do we channel that anger into something good?

And so I move to my last verse, taken from our Gospel reading today:

John 15:9 “Remain in my love.”

We might be angry ... Jesus got angry ... right there in the temple ...

Turned over the money changers tables ...

But Jesus didn’t tell us to remain in his anger ...

He told us to remain in his love.

John’s family has shown that to us this week.

Chris, Kathy, Katie and David ...

On behalf of everyone here I thank you for the witness you have been to us ...

From the moment I first prayed with you in your house ...

To last night as we spoke after the services here ...

You have remained in God’s Love.

You have offered forgiveness, even before it was sought ...

You spoke of healing ... even as you were living through your own hell ...

You showed us ... all of us ... how to remain in God’s Love.

And I know that John would want us to do that too ...

I know that John would say, “There’s been enough pain, let the healing begin.”

I know that John would challenge us to remain in God’s love ...

By making good choices ...

By challenging others to do the same, and by confronting them when they don’t.

We challenge others and we challenge ourselves to remain in God’s love.

Where do we go now?

Where do we turn at a time like this?

We turn to one another to be sure ...

and we cry together, and we hug and we hold on to each other.

We turn to the Grable family as Chris and Kathy have ...

And we help them to heal.

And we turn to Jesus ... and we ask him to ease our pain

And restore to us that deep, abiding peace.

John Christopher Gatz remained in God’s Love ...

As Son, as brother, as grandson, as nephew, as cousin, as friend.

John wasn’t perfect ... but he worked hard and did his very best.

John wasn’t perfect ... but he left the world a little better place.

No, John wasn’t perfect, but he is now.

In God’s kingdom, whole ... complete ... without blemish ... without pain.

In God’s kingdom he’s happy with Grandpa Norton and with his cousin Megan ...

And from there he sends us a message:

Use my life ... Use my death ...

Make something good of it.

Remain, each of you, in God’s Love.

        

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