Nine years ago, our brother Mitch went home to guard the streets of Heaven with his brother Marines. Just remembering the short reflection I shared shortly after his death. Still miss you brother

From 26 February 2011

“Our brother has died.” Those four words have been on my lips, in my heart and driven into my soul these past few days. My younger brother Mitch has died. They were the words that my Mother spoke to me late Sunday night. They were the words that I had to say to my brothers and sisters that they have had to say to each other, over and over again for the past several days. They are words that we will speak the rest of our lives: our brother has died.

My brother of 46 years now stands fully before our Creator as now he is absent from our lives. Did I tell him that I loved him the last time we spoke? When was the last time we spoke? My brother had gone in for knee replacement surgery and was at the home of his beloved friend recovering when he stopped breathing, when everything seemed to stop in our world. I screamed to God, I screamed at God for the last few days and I imagine that I will continue to do so for weeks to come. I do not understand?I have heard the voices of my brothers and sisters, of my Mom, of his friends quieted, saddened and filled with tears, as my voice has been. I don’t know why he died; it is not a question but a statement. I don’t know why my brother Mitch has died.

Was this God’s plan? I don’t know how to answer that question, but I do know this…it was God’s plan to place this man, my brother into the world, my brother Mitch was called into being by a loving God who gave to us, a son, a brother, a Marine, a man of grace and blessing, a man who chose to serve others and to generously give his life for others and a man of incredible faith who continually placed himself into God’s loving hands, trusting with confidence in his mercy and love. And I know that I stand in good company because just as those first disciples, those whom He called brothers and sisters, whom He called friends mourned at the death of our Lord, I with them will one day be able to rejoice because I know in faith that our brother Mitch lives in the embrace of God. And may his soul, and the souls of all the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace…Amen.

God Bless

Fr. Mark