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Funeral Homily for Scott A. LedDuke9/30/2025 Homily presented at the Funeral Rite for
Scott A. LedDuke (1980-2025) Rev. Richard S. Vosko, Ph.D. St. Pius X Church, Loudonville, NY LIVING ONE WITH CREATION When God created the heavens and the earth and everyone in it God said “It was good! God’s intention from the big bang forward was that all creatures would enjoy the beauty and the grace of God’s handiwork. It was an unrestrained outpouring of God’s love. Because God is love there is no explanation for a young father to be suddenly taken away from his family and friends. But, we should know this: God was the first one to cry when Scott died. Scott was one of those human beings who loved roaming the earth — the mountains, the seas, far away places, and his backyard garden. Scott loved relationships with the earth and people. He nurtured them. For him “with good friends, every road leads to a new adventure.” He loved his parents and siblings for sure. But most energetically and passionately Scott loved Lisa, and his children — Natalie, Emme, Juliette and Phoebe. I think his animal friend Trixie also got some attention. For Scott, “the best memories are made with family by your side.” After God’s creation got off to an evolutionary start God entrusted human beings to care for creation. Better yet, God hoped we would embrace creation as if we were one with it. When someone like Scott is swept away by death some part of creation, some part of us, is also taken away. It is as if Scott left an indelible mark on our lives, an imprint that is carried forth as we tell stories about Scott. There are two kinds of deaths. The first is the actual death experienced. The second death is to be forgotten. Scott will not leave us alone. We ought not leave Scott alone. Scott was one with creation inside and outside his being. His lifestyle and, I imagine, the way he thought about life, was an example of how a moral and mystical spiritual dimension in life can sustain humanity. It raises up hope, takes away fear, wipes off tears. Such spirituality is not an isolated experience. It emerges out of loving and caring relationships with others and the entirety of creation. Aloft on eagle’s wings, Scott is now embarked on a new adventure. It is one that is taking him to spaces and time zones he has yet to imagine. Scott had this notion that “the road never truly ends - it just turns into something new.” It is where he shall “see the face of God and live.” Death is not the end but the start of a new journey, one that will draw Scott more deeply into the creation he so loved. And, because the totality of God’s creation is not yet realized, somehow, Scott continues to remain part of our lives. Perhaps another one of his favorite lyrics tells it best: “Some day when we meet up yonder We'll stroll hand in hand again, In a land that knows no partin’ Blue eyes cryin' in the rain.” May Scott live on in peace. ___________________ * Lyrics in quotation marks by the Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson and Bob Dufford, SJ
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Whom Can We Trust?9/21/2025 WHOM CAN WE TRUST?
Homily presented at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Albany, NY September 21, 2025 - The 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C Some of us may recall a television program back in the 1970s called “Who Do You Trust.” (I know. School teachers protested it should be “Whom Do You Trust?”) The contestants were married couples with unique backgrounds. Each partner could either answer a question about their relationship or “trust” the other to tell the truth. We hear the word “trust” a lot lately. Insurance companies and media outlets confidently advertise “coverage you can trust.” Why is the word trust so important today? Marketing professionals know that the reason for long term loyalty to any product is “brand” trust. Auto dealers send you a note “Thank you for your trust and loyalty.” The same could be said about human relationships. They are best built on trust. The word trust is dependent on the word truth. Isn’t that what we want these days? Someone we can trust to just please tell us the truth! But both words are used interchangeably so their definitions are somewhat muddled. If my sets of truths do not agree with someone else’s truths which one of us is telling the truth? And, how did I learn that what I believe to be the truth, is the truth? Is there such a thing anymore that we can call “THE truth?” I know you must be thinking: “Wait. Didn’t Jesus tell us he is the “way, the truth, the light.” (John 14:6) So maybe trust and truth are linked to faith in God. Presumably, for those who believe in God, “faith” means the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Is it possible to have faith in something or someone without trust? For ages we have believed that God will deliver what we hope for. That’s why we pray to God. And, we also have learned from more contemporary theologies that God trusts in us to deliver the truth, to work for justice. Thinking about who we can trust to tell the truth is why today’s biblical texts require close attention. The gospel (Luke 16:10-13) tells us bluntly … if we cannot be trusted in small matters what makes us think we can handle the big ones. This gospel stresses the long-standing commitment of God and God’s people to social and economic justice. It also can address other aspects of our lives. Can we be trusted to tell the truth? How do we invest our talents and gifts for the common good? How do we approach hardships, difficulties or divisions in our lives? Can children trust their parents, teachers, coaches, clergy? Can you trust me, right now, to speak the truth? Perhaps another story will help. Amos is the chief protagonist in the first reading (Amos 8:4-7). He was a simple herdsman living in the hills of Tekoa, south of Bethlehem, in what is now the West Bank. He did not want to be a prophet. He was happy living in the countryside with his animal friends. Besides he did not want anything to do with city dwellers who were, in his mind, self-absorbed, vengeful and deceitful. Something came over Amos. He felt the “fire of justice” in his bones and so he spoke out against social injustices and religious arrogance. He was not worried about any repercussions. He trusted his own instincts to tell the truth about those corrupt Israelites. They were taking delight in living at the expense of other people. Amos was holding the Israelites accountable for their transgressions. The second reading (1 Timothy 2:1-8) uses the teachings of Paul to guide church order in the second century. The major concern was to preserve the faith against false teachings. The offenders are not named but the author exhorts people to stay away from those who cannot be trusted but to pray for them. Biblical scholar David Carr wrote that the author undercuts any human claims to sociopolitical power over other people — “there is also one mediator between God and humankind.” No one in a leadership role should be allowed to govern or teach in ways that serve their own interests and ideologies that would deny the human rights of others. We pray for such people so that all humans can live in peace and harmony without fear. This biblical text reminds us to think of humanity and the environment we live in as part of the creative activity of a nurturing God. That colossal love was revealed in the teachings of the Jewish Jesus of Nazareth. We gather here for worship trusting in those teachings. And at the same we pray for those who “abhor justice and pervert all equity.” (Micah 3:9) So, whom can we trust to establish a common ground in our own nation? We are wrestling with that question today. Pope Leo, pondering how to deal with pressing global problems, said in a recent interview that he “trusts human nature.” Perhaps we should as well. We can do the do-ables like Amos and other prophets. In non-violent ways we can continue to proclaim with unrestricted voices that all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God. And, we make that claim knowing that we have been entrusted with the responsibility to protect one another’s human rights to live peacefully and justly. |
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