Chief Shea's Homily

My sisters and brothers, we are gathered here this morning in this place because we are a people of faith – we have faith in God and faith in Jesus. That faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. That faith calls us to reflect on the fact that after James and Rose Shea gave Kevin life on November 5, 1949, they gave him a greater gift still. On November 20, 1949 Kevin was baptized in the old Saint Thomas Church on Delaware Avenue, by Father Daniel Markham. That’s how this ceremony began, sprinkling Kevin’s casket, covering it with a white pall, placing it next to the Paschal candle – all symbols and reminders of November 20, 1949 when Kevin went into the waters, there to die with Christ and rise from those waters sharing a life that never ends.

James and Rose Shea were Kevin’s first teachers. When he got old enough, they enlisted the aid of the Sisters of the Holy Names at Saint Thomas school to help them. It was in those formative years that Kevin learned and made his own the virtues that endeared him throughout his life to the hosts of people who called him “friend”.

On May 25th 1957 Kevin came to the altar to receive the Eucharist for the first time. Three years later on May 29, 1960 he was confirmed in his faith by Bishop Scully. And on November 15, 1980 Kevin Shea and Kathleen Malone stood before Father Charles Phillips in the Chapel of the Mercy Motherhouse on New Scotland Avenue and promised to become a sign to the community, a sign of faithful love.

How did Kevin’s baptismal commitment which he reaffirmed in Confirmation and pledged to Cathy in marriage play out in his life? I think the scripture chosen by the family tells us. The book of Wisdom called him the “just man” and adds, though he die early he shall be at rest. And why? Because he had attained understanding and lived a good life. When Kevin was being formed in his faith he learned the Jesus commanded two things of us – to love God and to love neighbor. He heard Jesus say “I have come not to be served, but to serve” He heard him say “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all”. Those words made sense to Kevin and they became part of him. His faith made him who he was.

The reading from Corinthians is a pretty accurate picture of the kind of love that burned in Kevin’s heart. He shared that love with Cathy, with Kelly, with his family, with the Elsmere Fire Company and with the community. Kevin learned the most important thing about love - he learned that love consists in this, not that we love God, but that God first loved us. Notice I’m not talking about the beautiful people here, I’m not talking about saints, I’m talking about us. God loves us so much that he sent his son to suffer and die and rise from the dead so that we might share his glory. Kevin believed that.

So Kevin lived his life here pretty much the way Jesus tells us in this morning’s Gospel we should live it. He had no big “ego”, he didn’t wear his faith on his sleeve, it was in his heart and in his deeds – he was a servant – teaching, coaching, encouraging, laughing, playing, cooking, serving – nothing seemed too much to ask him. He was at home with preschoolers, teaching them about fire safety, he was at home in the halls of government urging the adoption of uniform codes, but he was most at home, at home. So there can be no doubt that before his fellow firefighters got to his car on Saturday someone else had been there. The Lord Jesus embraced him and said “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom”.

And now we will go to the altar. We will prepare simple gifts of bread and wine. We will incense them, offering them to God. Then we will go down to the casket and incense Kevin’s body joining his whole life of loving service to our offering. Our faith tells us that our simple gifts become for us the body and blood of Jesus, the savior, the holy, the living, the acceptable sacrifice whom we will share in the Eucharist. It is in this offering and sacrifice and communion that we are consoled and in our grief find peace. Amen.

Written & Read by Father James Dailey
January 29, 2004

Questions or comments, please email: EFCwebmaster@elsmerefire.org