Value of Life

Burial traditions vary from culture to culture. Just as different religions and sects attach varying rites to burial, it is quit uncommon to see a group of people without a burial tradition. Even where some people claim to be atheists, they still attach certain rituals to burials. Nevertheless, some burial rites can be more elaborate and expensive, while others are simple and less expensive. Why are cultures not indifferent to burial, such that the dead can be discarded without any formal or socially accepted formula?

Our gathering here this afternoon from different parts of the country, in a cultural and grand style, is a reflection of how we value life. The value which a culture places on life is clearly  reflected in their burial ceremonies. The Igbos of Nigeria value human life so much. That is why a lot of energy, time and importance is put into their burial rites. In other words, the burial rites of Ndi Igbo can be said to be a ‘Celebration of Life’.

Hence, during the burial rites of men and women whom the society considers to be advanced in age, you would see men and women who are either family members,  friends of the deceased or close relations in matching attires, various cultural troupes would be in attendance, firing of cannons, use of sirens and of course, cooking of different delicacies and the serving of assorted drinks. These gestures are ways of saying: ‘if we had our way, we would have made it different because we love to live'. Thus, our gathering here today for the burial of our Daughter, Sister, Mother and Grandmother; Madam Patricia Chinakwaeze, is equally a way of saying, if it were within our power, we won’t have let our her go.

Since it is not within our power, in a way, we have been summoned here by a force beyond our power—the power of death! Since we are helpless, at the strike of death we feel the pain; tears roll. The tears too join in expressing our helplessness and how we wish it were different.

Nevertheless, we are here today as Christians. This makes a lot of difference. As Christians, our value for life is located in Jesus Christ. It is from Him that we draw meaning for life and death. Thus, our burial rite, marked with this Eucharistic celebration, has become an expression of the value for the life we share in Jesus Christ.

As Christians then, we will cry because we miss our mother but we will not despair; no one is going to jump into the grave! This is because in Jesus we have come to know that our life is a pilgrimage, and death is just the beginning of life. Thus, our burial rite has become an act of sowing her like a mustard seed to germinate through the Resurrection of Christ into eternity, where she will become a mighty tree of blessing. In Jesus we come to realize that we are not just left helpless under the destroying power of death, but rather we are under grace from Jesus’ triumph over death on the Cross. Hence every Christian burial is a proclamation of Jesus’s victory over death, which gives us hope.

Without Christ Jesus, our natural value for life cannot sustain us. We would despair when summoned by the force of death, and this in turn would diminish our value for life. That is why societies that reject Christ will always be permeated by the culture of death and low respect for human life.

We pray at this Mass that God will grant Madam Patricia Chinakweze a share in His Kingdom.

 

Fr Jude C. Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R

Holy Mass Celebrated at Late Madam Patricia Chinakweze compound

Eziagu Enugu, Nigeria
6th February, 2015.