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(Editor's note: Father O'Connor is chaplain to Our Lady of the Americas Shrine Church in Albany, a mission of Blessed Sacrament parish. He delivered this homily at the funeral Mass for Rev. Kenneth Tunny, a priest of the Albany Diocese who died April 9 at the age of 85.)

We've come to bury a dear friend, Rev. Ken Tunny. He was beloved by so many people.

One of his closest friends described him as a seeker. I had lived with him for four years and know this to be true: He struggled to know the truth.

One of the great breakthroughs of his life was his discovery of creation theology. It really energized him, encouraged him. He was very bright and deeply spiritual: a man of prayer, a wonderful listener.

He was no stranger to suffering. His stuttering was a heavy burden, but I believe it enabled him to understand and enter into the sufferings of others. He was a wonderful counselor and healer. He was a kind, loving man, and all kinds of people loved him -- including me.

Father Tunny was a marvelous preacher and teacher. There was great depth in his words. Miraculously, he didn't stutter as he preached -- and with great enthusiasm. Rev. John Malecki, another priest of the Diocese, said Father Tunny was the most honest man he ever knew.

Father Tunny had a riotous sense of humor and a quick wit. He loved the people of Arbor Hill. He was an excellent athlete and coached the young basketball players of St. Joseph's parish in Albany and many other places; the kids loved him.

Many of you looked after him during his twilight years. We are so grateful to you.

In his first Letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul bluntly states, "If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith...If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain. But, as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead."

The dying and rising of Jesus is the heart of our faith, the keystone. Without it, our faith is dead.

The wonderful story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus helps us to grasp the centrality of the resurrection. Martha speaks strongly to Jesus because He did not come to heal her brother Lazarus when she sent for Him. She says, "If you had been here, my brother would not have died."

Jesus answers, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes will never die. Do you believe this?"

Martha answers, "Yes, Lord, I have come to believe."

Later, as Mary and Martha come to the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus tells them, "If you believe, you will see the glory of God."

If we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus, we will see the glory of God.

You may say, "I want to believe, but sometimes my faith feels so weak;" "Sometimes I believe, but sometimes it's hard." But remember this: Jesus tells us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can say to the mulberry bush, "Be uprooted and thrown into the sea," and it will happen.

Don't let the dark places in your mind discourage you. God is always gifting you with His Holy Spirit. All we need to do is receive -- to open our hearts to this marvelous grace.

So, now, we give our brother, our friend, back to God from whom he came. We hope to see him soon.[[In-content Ad]]

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