Reflections of the Prior

                                         

            Funeral Homily for Br. James Kelly OSB,  19 April 2006


We remember Pope John 23rd saying: “ Every day is a good day to live and every day is a good day to die.”  Br. James picked the best of the good days – or God picked it for him.  In spite of our sadness at his loss to us, there is certain joy that he reached his maturity of faith and love.

In the Easter season we hear over and over: “ Christ was raised by the Glory of God.”  Another way to express it:  “He was raised by the power of God.”  That is St. Peter’s response to the crippled man at the entrance to the temple.  Peter and John had no money but they were conscious that the power of God to heal this man was available to Peter.  This power of the risen Christ is in us but we don’t realize it and it usually takes a lifetime to believe it and use Christ’s power for the good of others and one’s self as well.  This is the level I’m sure Br. James did reach at the end of his life.  The last two conferences he gave on Good Friday and Holy Saturday give ample evidence of this.

He combined a high degree of intelligence and a simple faith – things that often do not  come together in a person.
    I remember well our pilgrimage to the Holy Land that Br. James led for a rather large group of people.  Br. James had an impish way of tweaking people’s faith.  And when you don’t know someone well, this can be confusing.  Some people were having trouble with his lectures and they came to me.  I told them they were in the company of a genuine Irish Leprechaun and if they could accept that, everything would be quite different – and they did and it was.  Several of the people who were having the most trouble went with him on other pilgrimages!  And found him fascinating.  There was a simple beauty to his faith and an enthusiasm in pointing out that Jesus walked where we were walking.  His joy at being where Jesus had been was beautiful to experience.    I have heard so many stories these last few days of the good he did for people.  A priest here with us today met with Br. James in the sacristy after Mass two weeks ago and they talked about the scriptures. The priest was only ordained last June and he had to take the Easter Vigil service alone this year – he was beside himself with worry and prayed to God for help as he began the service.   Somehow the words of Br. James came to him and carried him wonderfully through the celebration.  Others have related how he reinvigorated and convinced them of their faith and worth.  That was true of so many who spoke to me yesterday.

The power that went out from St Peter to cure the cripple recalls the woman with the issue of blood who believed if she could but touch the hem of Jesus’ garments, she would be cured.  Jesus felt the power going out of him. It was not that he intended it, but her faith drew it from him and that is the power Peter knew he had to heal the cripple.  It is the power our faith gives us for ourselves and for others. 

     I mentioned the help he gave others but he lamented he had trouble with forgiveness.  Then in the last two conferences he admitted he felt he now had that power.  He was full of joy and gratitude to God for the gift and that he had accepted it.  Let me read what Fr. Nathan Munsch wrote when he was with us some years ago.  The ability to forgive is one of God’s greatest gifts to us and it takes a lifetime for us to grow in the confidence and ability to use this great gift.  It is at the heart of monastic life as well as at the heart of the life of every one of us. .

Fr. Nathan wrote:  “When Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter, he then mentions the power to forgive sins and it is apparent that Peter is the one first and foremost in need of forgiveness.  This power to forgive sins is offered to all Christian people.  It finds a  special and powerful expression in the sacrament of reconciliation.  But in our daily lives we also participate in this power by forgiving those around us when we are hurt by others and by seeking forgiveness when we hurt others.

“Mount Saviour is a contemplative monastery which means that the monks spend most of their time in the monastery and a great deal of time in prayer.  When I first joined the monastery and for many years thereafter, I thought that common prayer was the most important thing the brothers did.  After ten years in the monastery, I realize there is something even more important than common prayer.

“Several hours are set aside each morning for silence and private prayer.  I have come to realize there is something more important than silence and private prayer.


“We seek a balance in the type of work we do.  We do most of our own work and also have some lay volunteers who generously give their time to us.  At times I have thought this balanced life style must be the key element of being a monk; however, there is something even more important than leading a balanced life style.


“We have six guest houses and each year several hundred people come to spend time with us.  This is one of the ways the monastery serves the Church.  Yet hospitality is not the key element in being a Benedictine monk.


“I have come to the conclusion that the most important thing about being a monk is simply “community life”, and the key, the most important element in community life is the power of forgiveness.  This power is the key to the kingdom.


“It happens that the brothers hurt each other frequently and when that happens it is essential that the brother who has been hurt tells the other brother, who may not even be aware of it, and then be willing to forgive him.  This may sound simple but I find it one of the most difficult things about being a monk, and I suspect it is not essentially different for any Christian, because if we fail to do this then the bonds of affection and love that tie the community together will slowly become cool and the brothers will become distant  from each other and then our prayer life will grow cold.


“When I first joined the monastery, I did not realize forgiveness was such a key element of monastic life.  I thought monks became such holy people and reached a state of ‘perfection’ that they would do everything ‘right’.  Ten years in the monastery have taught me that I will always do things intentionally and unintentionally that will hurt others.  That I will always find it difficult to acknowledge and to ask for forgiveness and  I will have to rely on God’s power, not my own, to seek forgiveness.  Likewise I have learned that I will always be irritated and hurt by things the other brothers do and I will have to rely on God’s power to overcome my hardness of heart and pride to let them know that I am weak and vulnerable and have been hurt by them and to forgive them.


“The real key to being a monk is not to become ‘perfect’ but to rely on God’s power to live in a community of forgiveness and reconciliation, for only if we remain reconciled and at peace with each other, will we be sufficiently free to be thankful to God for all the things God has done for us and will we know the happiness and joy that God intends for us in this life and the next.”

                                                                                                           Fr.Martin