Memorial Mass for Jim O'Toole

Memorial Mass for Jim O’Toole[1]

June 26, 2025
John 11: 17-27
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

The raising of Lazarus (Giotto)

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11: 21).

There is a forlorn hope!  No one escapes the Grim Reaper.

Not even Jesus, to whom Martha appeals plaintively.

Yet he who is but a week away from his own death announces, “I am the resurrection and the life” (11:25).  Death cannot hold him down.  That, we know, he’s about to demonstrate with Martha’s brother.

That, we believe, is our firm belief.  We believe that the Lord is here.  Not that he’ll preserve us from a death like his own.  But we believe he is the Lord of life.  We believe that in him we’re destined for a life like his own, as Ps 16 assures us:  “You will not abandon my soul to the nether world, nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.  You will show me the path to life, fullness of joys in your presence, the delights of your right hand forever” (Ps 16:10-11), even in a new bodily form.  The one who sits on the throne of God says, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

So we commend to Jesus, our resurrection and our life, the Lord who is here, our brother Jim, as we’ve commended and will commend so many brothers, sisters, parents, and friends to the all-embracing love of Jesus, a love that we’ll specially celebrate tomorrow.  “Whoever lives and believes in [him] will never die” (John 11:26).

[1] James O’Toole, brother of one of the Christian Brothers in residence.  Some family members were present, as well

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