Lest We Forget
Sister Geraldine Collins, CSJP (1920-2010)
How beautiful on the mountain top are the feet of those who bring you peace! The readings today weave together pieces of wisdom and assurance so important to Geraldine in her living and in her dying. In Ephesians Paul tells us: you are no longer strangers and sojourners –you are …with the holy ones ….members of the household of God …built on a strong foundation …held together by Jesus himself…made into a sacred temple …a dwelling place of God. And I believe Geraldine knew this – not necessarily expressed in fancy words but in the light and grace of simple faith: no one who came into Geraldine’s life remained ‘stranger’ for long! Whether or not she fully understood or intended the theological depth of her simple question …it is perhaps the most profound question we can ever hear and one we do well to ponder: Who are you? Wrapped in the simplicity of those three words -- words Geraldine rather bluntly asked of the stranger in our midst, is the core of what Paul – what Jesus himself proclaims to each of us: Who are you? You are a sacred temple –the dwelling place of God ….you are no longer strangers …no longer sojourners. You are with the holy ones …the holy ones in the precious moments of here and now AND in the hereafter …that timeless time awaiting each of us. How beautiful on the mountain top are the feet of those who bring your peace! How beautiful in the valleys are the feet of those who bring your word!
In the second reading we are reminded that Peace is God’s gift …that peace points beyond itself in hope to the fullness of time … that it challenges us …permeates all aspects of our lives …pervade our prayer and calls us to a life of simplicity and service. Literally Geraldine walked the mountain top, and as we descended the mountain over rocks and ledges she prayed –prayed to every saint ever named – and to some I’d never heard of! But more than a physical mountain Geraldine’s feet climbed the mountain of prayer! Her heart, guileless and simple – a heart bigger than herself – prayed constantly for everyone, everything, and especially for peace in the hearts of all people and in the heart of a wounded world. Thoughts of God’s peace pervaded her prayer and placed her hope in the God of compassion …and she loved fiercely through her life of simplicity and service. Geraldine trusted, not herself ….not words….but trusted the God of Compassion made visible in Jesus, Son of Mary and our brother.
Our Mother Mary was a constant presence with Geraldine. Her prayer, whether in the deep and sometimes very dark valleys through which she struggled, or on the mountain top, her prayer reflected constancy of simple faith that Mary’s Son Jesus would make all things well. Geraldine knew without a doubt that God looked upon her lowliness, just as God did upon Mary and rejoiced as Mary did in God, her friend and savior. As Mary’s prayer – the prayer of Hanna before her – calls upon God’s mercy and justice to lift up the poor ….to disperse the arrogant of heart and mind …to take the mighty from their thrones and lift up instead the lowly; to fill the hungry and dismiss those whose possessions are many ….so too Geraldine’s prayer. What she read in the daily newspaper or heard in the nightly news was processed always through the refining fire of simple, faith-filled prayer for peace; for justice, mercy and compassion. We all know Geraldine, just like the rest of us, was not perfect – in fact she, like the rest of us, was sometimes cranky and a bit annoying. We also know, if we listen with our heart that Geraldine was / is a woman of simple faith in God made flesh in Jesus, Son of Mary.
Death is such a mystery! One moment here, and as Geraldine was: fully aware, alert, in charge, and – I might add -- not patient – kind and gracious to all who cared for her – but definitely not patient!! And within a few hours breath gone from a now lifeless body ….as some among our native brothers and sisters say: breath gone as if the Great Spirit draws the breath back into Spirit Itself! Faith tells us that life is not ended …only changed. So many times in her brief hospital stay Geraldine gave witness to the depth of her faith: in a clear voice Geraldine assured us that she was ready …’ready when in God’s time ---when Jesus calls ---when Mary takes my hand …I am ready to go Home!’ Somewhat impatiently she let us know that she wanted so much to come home here to St. Mary’s to die …as she said ‘to die in my own bed! ….and when arrangements could not be completed fast enough she said ‘OK then’ … let go into God’s hand and went Home in her own way—ready when God called and free to go in faith, trusting that life is not ended …only changed! Here we are the end of the year, on the cusp of a new year bidding Geraldine ‘safe travels’ and eternal joy on the now eternal mountain top. In words taken for the reading in this morning’s office: Tonight people will wish each other a ‘happy new year’ without knowing whether it will be or not. Shall we, children of God, be able to face the future with no other luggage than our faith? It is after all, our life in Christ that distinguishes us …Only Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.
Happy new changed life Geraldine!
Respectfully and honored---Sister Kathleen Pruitt, CSJP