A reading from the Second Book of Samuel (1:18-27)
David ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields!* For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more.
From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
O daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!
Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
From The Mirror of Charity by St. Aelred of Rievaulx (+1167)
Look at what I have lost. Look at what I miss. Where have you gone, O model for my life, harmonizer of my conduct? Where have you gone, where have you vanished? What shall I do? Where shall I turn? Whom now shall I propose to follow? How have you been torn from my embrace, withdrawn from my kisses, removed from before my eyes? I embraced you, dear brother, not in the flesh but in the heart. I used to kiss you not with a touch of the lips but with attachment of the mind. I loved you because you welcomed me into friendship from the very beginning of my conversion, showed yourself more familiar with me than with the others, linked me with your own Hugh in the inner depths of your soul. So great was your love for both of us, so similar your affection, so single your devotedness, that as I seem to have gathered from your words to me, your attachment preferred neither one to the other, though unbiased reason would have preferred him to me because of his holiness. Why then did you pass away while I was not there? Why did you not want me present at your departure, whom alone when I was present you thought took the place of both? Perhaps you thought we should be spared this, that is, you and I, so that your departure would not cause affliction to my sight, and my grief would not sadden your joyful and tranquil departure even in the slightest way. Or, as I am inclined to believe, perhaps divine loving-kindness looked upon you alone, in order to transfer your calm and peaceful soul in all tranquillity from the miseries of this life to your longed-for fatherland, and almost without your knowing it to break the bond of your physical dwelling with such ease that not the slightest fear of death might trouble a soul so dear to him.
What then did you gain, bitter death? What did you gain? Of course, you invaded his tent, the site of his pilgrimage, but you broke the chain which tethered him. You destroyed the dwelling he enjoyed in the meantime, but you removed the load which oppressed him. We know that if the earthly house we inhabit is destroyed, said the apostle, we have a building from Godnot made with hands, an eternal home in heaven. Now, therefore, his soul, friend of virtues, desirous of quietness, eager for wisdom, victorious over nature, has been divested of its enveloping flesh and, if I may say so, has flown off on freer wings to that pure and sublime Good to be gathered into the long desired embrace of Christ.
Musical Selection(Jimmy Scott)
If tears could build a stairway
And memories a lane
We'd walk right up to heaven
And bring you back again
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you did not go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home
God looked around his garden
And he found an empty place
Then he looked down upon the earth
And he saw your precious face
He put his arms around you
And he lifted you to rest
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best
Yes, he always takes the best
We knew that you were suffering
We knew you were in pain
We knew you'd never get well
On this earth again
So he closed your weary eyes, and
He whispered, "Peace be thine"
Then he took you up to heaven
So gentle, so kind
God looked around his garden
And he found an empty place
Then he looked down upon the earth
And he saw your precious face
He put his arms around you
And he lifted you to rest
God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best
Oh, God's garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best
Prayer
To you, O Lord, we commend the souls of your servants;
in the sight of this world they are now dead;
in your sight may they live for ever.
Forgive whatever sins they committed through human weakness
and in your goodness grant them everlasting peace.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,