Homily

There is a line in the funeral service which says, “I weep and lament when I contemplate death.” And how true that is. First of all we mourn the loss of a beloved husband, father, grandfather, relative, friend, and fellow parishioner, for each one of us had a unique relationship with David and by each of us he will be deeply missed, by each in our own way. That’s a cause for genuine sorrow and sadness.

At the same time, we are also sad, looking at death, because it’s a reminder that we too are mortal, and one day our lives in this world will also come to an end. And that’s also a cause for sadness, realizing that our own days on this earth are also numbered and counted in the hands of God. And I see today so many people who want to shy away from the sadness of death by events where they do their best not to think of death, loss, and sorrow, but because they are so desperate to avoid looking death in the face.

We’re not here to celebrate David’s life to remember him, honor him, and talk about him. We are here to look death in the face. We are here to mourn his departing from us and to comfort one another as best we can. But we’re not here to avoid looking at death. We see it right before us and we answer it directly, not avoiding it or turning away, but we stare death in the face and we answer it with our hope in Jesus Christ who has conquered death. We mourn not in vain but in Christ. And we come here today to offer one final service to the man who has left us. As Christians have done from the very beginning, we come here to pray for the respose of his soul. If, for any reason, he is not yet ready to stand in the Lord’s presence, we pray that Christ will pardon him and bring him to his everlasting home. And, if he is already there, be sure our prayers will not be wasted. Let us continue to pray for him in the days and months ahead and stay connected with him in that way in the Body of Christ, and when he stands before the Lord, he will surely pray for us.

Death brings us another opportunity, because as we think of the end of one person’s life it easily brings to mind the truth that we too shall face the grave one day. Knowing that we will also die should push us to really and seriously think about how we should be living today. What is the point of my life, what am I living for, am I living as good a life as I should be, and if I am heading toward death what does that mean for my life? We can avoid thinking about it, but that doesn’t change the reality of our futures. There is a definite and absolute meaning and purpose for our lives. David knew what it is.

We who believe in Christ, we who try to live as His disciples, we can only face death with hope in our Lord, Who has conquered death by His own resurrection from the dead. Our Lord told us that not everyone who cries out to Him, “Lord, Lord,” will be saved but only those who do the will of His heavenly Father. So, funerals are a good time to recommit ourselves to being genuine disciples of Christ, to following the will of His Father, and our Father, and when we do that we strengthen our hope in Christ and our claim to the gift of everlasting life.

So, standing here today let us pray for one another, and let us pray for David. Let us continue to put our faith in Christ, as he put his faith in Christ, and let us live in the great hope of all that the Lord has promised us, if we live according to His word. We stand in sorrow; we find comfort in our Savior—may we praise His name forever and ever.