a funeral sermon for jeanne logan
Today we lay Jeanne to rest.
Her struggles with her health this past year had taken their toll on Jeanne; and so although we do grieve today, we also take some solace in the fact that she is at peace now.
That isn’t to say, it was easy getting to this point.
When she was at the care center or hospital she longed to be home, to have coffee with the gals.
Then, the day the doctor told her and her family, there wasn’t any more that could be done; Jeanne did struggle; at first. She would often talk to me about being a little apprehensive about being laid to rest; not knowing exactly what was next. And I know that, shortly after her doctor visit, she also told some of you that she was afraid…
Yet between then and last Saturday Jeanne passed peacefully.
And not only that; because after that talk with the doctors, after Jeanne had time to pray, read her Bible, and talk with her loved ones, she was able to say she was ready at the end.
So we take comfort in the fact that Jeanne passed peacefully, and ready.
Jeanne’s worry gave way to something else; stubborn as she was she met someone who was more insistent. So at the end Jeanne’s worry gave way to the promises of Christ - “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” Jesus said. Do not let your hearts be troubled, because Jesus has gone ahead of us, to prepare a place for us in his father’s house.
Between her conversation with the doctor and last Saturday; Jeanne took Jesus at his Word. Although she wasn’t sure how the afterlife would come; Jeanne trusted that Jesus had indeed gone ahead of her to prepare a place for her; so she wouldn’t let her heart be troubled, she was ready.
Her trust was displayed by the peace she made with the fact that she was going to die.
But you know, I think there is another place where Jeanne’s trust is on full display; the solo we just heard, “Here I am, Lord.” Honestly, this isn’t a common hymn for funerals (not for protestants anyway); not like Amazing Grace; which we will sing shortly. But it was a hymn Jeanne was adamant about having in her funeral.
And that’s how Jeanne was; she had her opinions, and she wasn’t afraid to let you know them. So today, at Jeanne’s funeral, we heard the hymn, “Here I am, Lord.”
So we heard this hymn; not about being worried, but about being willing. A hymn about trusting Jesus enough to follow him wherever; to the hereafter, yes; but more than that, too.
I want to tell a quick story about the last time Jeanne and I really got to chat. We were in the hospital; and she was talking about her family making their way back into the church one way or another, and I told her about a couple of other entrances that she didn’t know about.
Jeanne was quiet for a moment; and then she said that if her death brought those she loved and prayed for, back in the church, than she could be okay with her death.
This hymn we just heard, wasn’t some music she liked; but a faith Jeanne lived out. Jeanne had heard the insistent voice of her savior; and his promises to her lead her past her worry.
For as strong-willed as Jeanne could be, and she could be; Jeanne met someone with an even stronger will than her’s; her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jesus, who promised to go ahead of Jeanne and prepare a place for her. With that promise firmly in her heart, Jeanne didn’t need, ultimately, to be afraid; and so in those last days she could move past fear, to hope for all of us, to trust.
After all, if Jesus had done so much for her; than she could trust that Jesus was not only busy preparing a place for her, but a place also for those ones she loved, for you all.
As the darkness came for Jeanne; she heard the voice of her savior calling in her last night yet again. Without fear Jeanne raised her voice in reply, “Here I am, Lord. I will go, Lord - if you lead me.”
And Jesus, ever true to his Word, came to take Jeanne to himself, so that where he is she may be also - to lead her to the way.
Now Jeanne is at peace, yes; but even more than that, ever last whisper of doubt is gone for her too, as she is welcomed to the place Jesus has gone ahead of her to prepare. She knew the way all along, it was the way of her savior, the way of the one who called her name.
And so let us also rise, and sing of this Amazing Grace that never let Jeanne down.
Amen
Comments
Post a Comment