My wife, Rie, passed away at here in Japan on Sunday, December 16, 2007. She was 37 years old. Her family was at her bedside—including our 14-month-old daughter.
On a typical Sunday, if we were attending 9:30 a.m. Mass in Japanese, we would have been scrambling to get the baby dressed at that time. December 16 was “Gaudete Sunday,” the third Sunday of Advent, when the holy Mass opens with the words: “Gaudete in Domino semper”—“Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).
That is not easy to do now. All the plans, all the dreams left unfulfilled … At Rie’s funeral Mass on December 18, the powerful homily (by a Columban missionary priest from Australia) focused on Matthew 11:28-30.
“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your selves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”
Although there were countless blessings since Rie’s illness was discovered last June, her yoke was a very heavy one. And our yokes are very heavy now. But Father Mackay explained that when an ox is fitted with a yoke, the animal is always carefully measured first. Rie’s yoke fitted her perfectly, he suggested, in ways that cannot be easily understood.
Our Lord was clearly helping Rie carry her burden of cancer. Rie dictated the following prayer and message to a nurse in the hospital’s ICU unit sometime during the night of July 9-10, immediately after her major surgery.
Rie never recalled dictating the prayer or message, and was never sure which nurse wrote down the words. Please consider them a small thank you to everyone who so graciously prayed for us, and may continue to do so.
Japan Bill
RIE’S PRAYER
The Lord is truly great.
The Lord is to be praised.
Praise the Holy Spirit who flows from the Lord.
The Holy Spirit is the One who guides your path.
Trust the Holy Spirit to continue shining His light.
Anoint the light of His Spirit.
Pray with righteous people and receive the anointing of the Spirit.
Do not be afraid of the Holy Spirit.
Be filled with the Holy Spirit and receive His anointing.
The Holy Spirit will always guide you where you should go.
He is waiting to be praised by you.
Seek the gift of the Holy Spirit and do not be afraid of His Spirit.
You will receive the gift.
And He will always be the light unto your path.
RIE’S MESSAGE TO BABY K
Read the Psalms whenever you have a problem.
The book of Psalms will give you an answer to every situation you will face in life: joy, suffering, sorrow.
Always shine the light of your faith.
The Holy Spirit will surround you with His love.
Receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit and share the light of His Spirit with others.
The Holy Spirit may give you the gift of tongues for the sake of the body of Christ.
We can meet again in His glorious temple.
Wear the spiritual armor and become a strong person,
Covered with the precious blood of Christ.
Jesus is your best friend when you are in sorrow.
You cannot find the true joy that Jesus Christ gives
in worldly pleasures or temporary satisfaction.
The purpose of my life was to give birth to you and meet you.
I am very happy, K.
I am looking forward to the day we will meet again.