A Homily of Hope: Joseph Lucey, My Friend
Joe Lucey, my friend, and support since we both attended Salesianum High School in Wilmington, Delaware, recently died. Arriving home from preaching at a church in Rhode Island, I went directly from the airport to his bedside. Joe was surrounded by his loving family. I prayed and blessed Joe as he was letting go of this life for the next. After the blessing, he gently breathed his last. The following is the homily I delivered at Joe’s Mass of Resurrection.
As I begin these remarks for my good friend Joe Lucey, I am consoled by this thought from Saint Francis de Sales: “It is a consolation to know that the friendships begun on this earth will continue in heaven.” And I look forward with joy to the day when that takes place.
Although we want to believe what our faith teaches us about Death: “For just as in Adam all die, so too in Christ shall they be brought to life,” death still has a sting because it takes away someone we love. It makes an empty place at our table and rips away a major part of our lives. Death’s permanency leaves us sad and angry, placing a dark cloud over the beliefs we hold.
Joe’s battle took every ounce of energy and fight he had. Joe is the loving husband of Gene, and proud father of Joe, Jr. Elizabeth, and Mark. And Joe was a friend to many in this Church today!
At Joe’s baptism, God called him, as he does each of us, with the words, “follow me.” Knowing Joe, he eagerly responded, “Where to?” And Jesus replied, “Come and see” which Joe enthusiastically did! Beginning here at this church, St Anne’s.
Joe jumped into life becoming the pride of the Forty Acres where he lived. Whether in studies or athletics’ here at S. Ann’s, or his years at Salesianum school, honors came his way. Yet Joe always carried them humbly, never bragging. Among these many honors, Joe with his larger-than-life smile, was invited to play in the first Blue/Gold game at the University of Delaware. But Joe declined because his college studies had begun, and this would interfere.
After college Joe married Gene, in a fun-loving Forty Acres wedding, the first step in building their fine family happened. And later it led to adding their beloved grandchildren.
It takes faith to take these steps, to follow them bravely, and to trust. Trust because we must believe the Lord will make good on His promises to love us back if we love him.\
Many of our choices in life are to do, and to take risks, and go into the unknown. Even when Joe didn’t fully understand what life put in front of him, Joe knew he couldn’t just sit on his hands and let life happen. He must do something, which may be difficult, but he trusted Jesus would help.
Joe knew this and excelled at his job at Du Pont as his family grew! From his early days, he understood if God loved him, He would help him through any darkness. So, Joe made his life happen. He loved his family so much he knew he had to act.
Mark Twain once said that the two most important days in life are the day we are born, and the day we find out why. For Joe, the why was always to consider how to love and care for family.
God wants us to live life to the fullest. For Joe and Gene, it was love of family whether through summer fun, or holiday fun. I remember putting Christmas toys together with Joe many a Christmas Eve. It was like the blind leading the blind. You can be sure, we always hit a catastrophe. But Joe faithfully plunged on with me fumbling through with him.
We labored until we finally finished singing Jingle Bells in the cold on Christmas Morning.
And later, Joe found his real niche by aiding his clients by strengthening their bodies at the gym and living healthier lives!
A theologian once wrote, “All symphonies we write on this earth remain unfinished. No one passes this earth giving birth to all he or she wanted to contribute to this world.” During our lifetime journey, like Joe’s, we become who God wanted us to become whether an athlete, a proud father and grandfather, a member of the elks, or an instructor helping hurting bodies to heal. Joe always did enough with his life to please God, which is always enough for our loving God to pass us from here to eternity.
Joe loved his faith deeply, and returned God’s love for his love of family, friends, and those he helped go stronger. Even at the end when the pains were strong, Joe stuck it out for as long as he could. And when he couldn’t, he let go and let God took over.
Joe was not a saint. I know better. But I wanted to affirm that Joe took his number of years and made them work. He did what he had to do and did it in the best way possible. He built his life surrounded by those he loved within the years he lived. As a result, we can hear through the clouds Jesus’ heavenly greeting, “Well done good and faithful servant. You did well in good times and bad. Enter now and rest. Rest.”
