KENYA: In Christ, We Shall Meet Again: Archbishop Muhatia at Fr. Mathew’s Burial
Sr. Henriette Anne, FSSA
As the clergy, Religious men and women, all the faithful of Kisumu Archdiocese and the entire AMECEA Pastoral Institute (API) in Gaba Campus, Eldoret, Kenya mourns over the death of Fr. Mathew Omogo Oduor, the Archbishop Maurice Muhatia Makumba of Kisumu Archdiocese urged everyone to embrace the hope of resurrection.
During the funeral Mass that was attended by Bishop Mark Kadima of Bungoma Diocese as the main celebrant, priests from different dioceses and Religious men and women, Archbishop Muhatia noted that through Christ’s victory on Calvary and the glory of Easter Sunday, “death is transformed into life, darkness into light in Christ.” We Shall Meet Again: Archbishop Muhatia’s message at Fr. Mathew’s burial and sorrow into joy, assuring mourners that one day they would reunite with Fr. Mathew in eternal life, singing together in the heavenly kingdom.
“We believe we will again encounter Fr. Mathew at the time of the resurrection; we will sing together with him in Heaven”, he continued, “Do not weep, “for in Fr. Mathew, God is glorified, and in Christ, we have the promise of resurrection”.
Sharing testimonials from his Colleagues at API, Archbishop Muhatia who is also the chairman of Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishop (KCCB) said that Fr. Mathew has left a lasting impression on those he served.
“We received some very pleasant things about Fr. Mathew, he has left the heart of the people of Gaba a very good image of a priest, a good man and I was glad to hear those words being mentioned and spoken of Fr. Mathew from the last station of his appointment”.
Revisiting the story of Martha, sister to Lazarus, who expressed her sorrow to Jesus but remained open to the Lord to lead her through the forest of sorrow to the light of resurrection, the prelate encouraged the faithful to emulate Martha’s openness.
“Those who seems to die before their time, it because God is taking them away from the midst of the wicked. Is because God has favored them. When we hear those kinds of words it fills us with joy that God has called Fr. Mathew Himself but it also lives us with a deep concern that could we be the wicked left behind. Could our sorrow perhaps be misplaced? Or we are overly sorrowful over Mathew, who God has taken away and might be failing to recognize that we could be the ones wicked out of whose midst the Lord has called him. And this also brings us with joy to remain open as Martha was open to Christ to lead her in the darkness of sorrow and sadness to light of resurrection”.
Addressing the mourners over the death of Fr. Mathew who passed away shortly after reporting back to Gaba Campus, the chairman of KCCB opined that though Fr. Mathew may have died young, he lived a life faith and virtue, which is a sign of God’s favor.
He further explained that those who seems to die before their time is because God is taking them away from the wicked, God has favored them challenging the faithful if they could be the wicked left behind.
“Those who seems to die before their time, it because God is taking them away from the midst of the wicked. Is because God has favored them. When we hear those kinds of words it fills us with joy that God has called Fr. Mathew Himself but it also lives us with a deep concern that could we be the wicked left behind. Could our sorrow perhaps be misplaced? Or we are overly sorrowful over Mathew, who God has taken away and might be failing to recognize that we could be the ones wicked out of whose midst the Lord has called him. And this also brings us with joy to remain open as Martha was open to Christ to lead her in the darkness of sorrow and sadness to light of resurrection”, he narrated.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading, Archbishop compared Fr. Mathew’s death to the story of the widow in Nain who had lost her only son and Jesus showed compassion to her saying, “Do not weep”, stressing that they are in a similar experience because death is always a tragedy and death of one person means many things to many people.
He continued, “Jesus is telling all of us here, who have been touched with the life of Fr. Mathew in different ways, “do not weep”, “do not cry”, Jesus is full of compassion to all of us, He in our midst as we participate in this celebration of the life of our priest who we knew very well”.
“He is inviting us as we participate at in this Mass of the burial of Fr. Mathew, we think of the greatness of Jesus Christ and God in the death of Christian like this one”.
