Fr Victor Owan Enoh offered his services for both the living and the dead while he was alive and we are gathered to pay him our last respect by praying for his eternal rest.
Scripture says “It belongs to all to die, and after death comes judgement” and at the judgment seat everyone will give account of himself. What this means is that no one will be left in this life, so long as you are human. It’s a matter of time. Gradually all of us will go one by one. Take a look at some of your old photographs, look at faces of classmates; almost all are gone. Teachers who taught us to say the truth are all gone. Take a look at your community photos, almost all are gone. That’s the reality of life: that we all must go. Whatever your position in life, you will go. What matters is to mind the way you live your life. What matters is to follow the way Jesus taught us.
From his works, we have every reason to believe Fr Victor has positive things to present before God. To be called God’s servant is not a small thing. We feel his departure. We mourn him, but his departure is what God wanted for now. It is not how long, but how well one carried out his activities that matters. St Paul admonishes us not to mourn like pagans who do not understand that God created us to live briefly here and at a point cross over and live eternally with him. People do not vanish to nowhere. The catechism of the church reminds us that God created us to know him, serve him and be happy with him in the life after. Those who have died are fulfilling that injunction. We who are still living have no advantage over the dead except that we still have opportunity to purify ourselves because nothing sinful can see God. Do not live forgetful’of of the fact we all shall return to tell God what we did with our time on earth. Let us follow Jesús daily doing good.
Fr Victor did his best humanly speaking. Jesus said those who knew his will and tried to do it, will be rewarded. God gives us intelligence so that we can distinguish good from evil. Fr Victor tried his best to do the things God called him to do. May God give him peace in his kingdom, Amen. It has never been in the nature of God to do odd or evil things and so God will be merciful to him. Live your life well; whether as a lay person, clergy or religious. Life is a struggle. Struggle to live well and do not give up. Fr Victor was persevering to the end despite his struggle with the ill health he went through. Don’t give excuses that your struggles in life prevented you from doing God’s will. Keep struggling and as you struggle believe that God will never allow you to struggle in vain. In sports we are often reminded that we should struggle even to the last point. Because your seriousness will win you your salvation. Don’t stop the race on the way. In a marathon, even the last runner never gives up.
I feel with the family of the late Fr Victor who are very grieved at the moment. Please don’t mourn like the pagans. Fr Victor believed in Jesus way and he will be raised up (Amen). I know my redeemer liveth. The one who called your brother to serve him lives and he will raise him up. Don’t not mourn hopelessly like pagans do. Someone should tell Mamá Víctor to take heart. He was mamá’s pet, a special son she cherished so much as I heard. Tell her that whatever God was to give her through Fr will be given her. She will surely receive her reward.
Thank you brothers and sisters for worshipping with us and may the good soul of Fr Victor Achima Owan Enoh rest in perfect peace, Amen.