The priest began by emphasizing the significance of the Holy Mass in uniting humanity with Christ, particularly during moments of grief. He reassured the congregation that the special prayers offered during the Mass would guide Bariyanga Thomas on his journey to eternal rest. “Thomas has died with faith,” he said, adding that the outpouring of love and prayer from the community was a testament to his impact.
Fr. Odeda expressed gratitude to the community for gathering in large numbers to mourn with the family, reflecting on the inevitability of death. “Death is no joke, and it happens to everyone,” he remarked. Highlighting the frequency of loss, he shared, “Yesterday, we were in Kashenyi for a burial; today, we are here, and elsewhere, people are mourning too.”
The priest also spoke of his interaction with Thomas’s children, recalling how their father had bid an emotional farewell to his son Deus as he prepared to travel to Kampala. This moment of connection illustrated the depth of Thomas’s love for his family, even in his final days.
Fr. Odeda drew on his own experiences with bereavement to comfort the mourners. He recounted the death of his father during the Easter season, a loss that profoundly shaped his faith journey.
“On that day, I was to pray three Masses,” he recalled. “While on the altar, I noticed my aunt leaving the sacristy in tears. Though I continued the Mass, my heart was heavy. Humanity dictated that I pause and attend to the matter. I informed the Bishop and later resumed the Mass to send my father off with prayers.”
Upon returning home and seeing his father’s coffin, Fr. Odeda admitted to being overcome with sorrow. Yet, he found solace in the power of the Eucharist. “The Mass gives us hope, even in our deepest grief,” he encouraged the mourners, urging them to cling to their faith.
Reflecting on the life of Bariyanga Thomas, Fr. Odeda highlighted his acts of kindness, charity, and dedication to his family and community. “Thomas visited the sick, helped the poor, and performed countless acts of love. He was a man of virtue,” the priest noted. He encouraged the congregation to emulate Thomas by fostering love, avoiding enmity, and serving those in need.
Drawing wisdom from the book of Sirach, Fr. Odeda reminded the mourners, “What you sow is what you reap.” He shared a childhood memory of his mother using a mirror to teach him a valuable lesson. “She would tell me to look in the mirror, and whatever I saw was how the world saw me. If you are happy, the world reflects that happiness. If you are sad, the world mirrors that sadness.”
Fr. Odeda used the metaphor of debt to illustrate the weight of sin, urging everyone to prepare spiritually for their own eventual passing. “Have you ever owed a friend a debt and failed to pay? You even fear meeting them. Sin is like that; it burdens and bends you,” he explained. He encouraged the faithful to live lives of love and forgiveness, as unresolved enmity leaves us indebted to God and humanity.
He concluded with a powerful reminder: “Thomas has rested, but we who remain must pray for ourselves. We are all candidates of death. What matters is securing a place in God’s temple, and that is achieved through love and acts of charity.”
Fr. Odeda expressed his heartfelt thanks to the community for their unwavering support and unity during the time of loss. “Let us pray for the soul of Thomas, for his family, and for ourselves,” he urged.
The sermon was a reminder of the fragility of life and the hope found in faith. It left the mourners inspired to live
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