The Home Going Of
Declán Xavier O'Brien Joplin


We come here today not to celebrate death but to celebrate life. Delcan’s journey here on earth is
over but his life isn’t. We rejoice because Declan gave us so much the short time he was with us.

Monday, July 23, 2007


Words of Consolation Memorial Service
For Declán Xavier O’Brien-Joplin
July 3, 2005 -– July 17, 2005

Franciscan Renewal CenterCasa de Paz y Bien
5802 East Lincoln Drive
Paradise Valley, AZ


Questions With and Without Answers/Reverend Alan L. Joplin
Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me, and do not
hinderthem, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.”

We are gathered here today on a very sad occasion. One of the most painful experiences in life is the death of an infant. The death of a child I believe is the greatest sorrow a person will ever know. We come today with more questions than we do answers. We all have a lot of questions. There are questions that we will ask that have no answers and there are questions that we will ask that have answers.

Questions With No Answers
  • We don’t know why this child was taken before he really began to live.
  • We don’t know the talents and abilities he had
  • We don’t know his favorite ice cream and other likes and dislikes
  • We don’t know what kind of impact he would have made in our world and in our lives

Questions With Answers

  • Was God aware of the situation? We know that God knits us together in our mother’s womb and that we are all precious in his sight. God knows us even inside the womb. Jeremiah 1:5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” God did know Declan and he knows that we prayed and prayed for him.

  • Where is Declan? We know that Declan is in the presence of the Lord. Genesis 2:7 tells us that God created each person with an eternal soul. Every human being has a living soul, a soul that has the capacity to spend eternity with God. The Bible tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:3 that “to be absent from the body to be present with the Lord.” Many times we think about Matthew 19:14 and relate it to simple faith... having the faith of a child. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” Maybe God was telling us that Heaven, right this moment, is full of children just like Declan. Today he resides in Heaven in the arms of God.

What now? I would like to encourage you to look to God for help. Isaiah 61:1 describes “God as the God who binds broken hearts.” The idea is that God will wrap Himself around our hearts to help heal the hurt. God promises comfort to those who mourn.

In the book of Matthew Jesus said “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in heaven. Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” We praise God for His love. And we praise God that in the Kingdom of Heaven He has prepared a place for Declan where he stands at this very moment with our Lord, where there is no pain, sadness, concern, doubt, nor lack of understanding. Everyone who is born into this world must leave it.

When King David’s infant son died, he said “I know that my son can not come back to be with me here, but one day I will go to be with him.” Death can seem to be our enemy. If death had its way, we would never see our loved ones again. But Jesus Christ destroyed the effects of death, through His resurrection.This is why when an innocent child dies, their body is left behind; they are taken to be with Christ. Scripture tells us “to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.” To our Lord Declan has gone.

And if we have accepted Christ’s free gift of salvation, just like King David, we too can exclaim “One day I will go to be with him! ” If you have never accepted Christ’s free gift of eternal salvation and want to have the blessed assurance of a place in the Kingdom of Heaven prepared just for you by our Lord, or if you wish to rededicate your life please pray with me right now.

PRAYER: Lord, I know that you came to earth just to die for our sins.I acknowledge you as my Lord and King. I believe that you can make a difference in me and in my life. I believe that you died on the cross and rose again, defeating death so that when we die, we can be with you. Forgive us our sins, For the scriptures say that we have all sinned and fall short of your glory. Thank You Jesus for calling me yours. Thank you for the place you prepared for me and your darling Declan. Be with us Fill us with your Holy Spirit and peace. Amen