Loading...
Sermon May 30, 2021
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers,
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
First Sunday after Pentecost – Trinity Sunday
Readings: https://nativityandststephen.diocpa.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/3207402
Audio: /documents/Homily_for_Edna_Baker
Video: https://youtu.be/z9-wBNzh1uY
Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26
Please be seated.
What can be said at a time like this? What can be said about Edna Baker? Her physical absence with us is so palpable. We are still in shock. Yes, we are grateful that she is not suffering or in pain, but we are thrown off. We are going through the motions of life and all of the things that must be done when someone dies.
We expect to see her coming around the corner at any minute…or kneeling at this railing with hands outstretched to take communion, like she did for so many years. We expect to see her knitting yet another hat for a child in Perry County who needed one for the winter, or a prayer shawl for a resident in a nursing home.
We expect to hear her voice. She rarely missed church on a Sunday morning, so we think she is not here, because she must be home preparing a feast for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren who are visiting.
Her Forward Day by Day and other daily Bible meditations lie open where she left them on the table on the back porch. We know she will appear at any moment to read them, or stop by the church office to pick up the next one.
We can see her, dressed so beautifully; everything in place and matching down to the finest detail. And often coordinating with what Bob would wear.
We can hear her practical voice, taking life in stride. We can hear her refusing any help, because she was just fine and able to carry on and we believe her, because of the way she got through two knee replacements just two years ago.
As her grandson Marc said the other day, Edna exuded and taught him about strength, power, and beauty.
The family chose this Gospel reading from John. Jesus has just arrived in Bethany four days after his friend, Lazarus, has died. Lazarus’ sister, Martha comes out to meet Jesus and this exchange takes place.
We hear these well-known words from Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”
Especially now, that seems hard to totally understand. What do you mean, Jesus, that those who believe, even though they die, will live or that everyone who believes in You will never die? We have evidence otherwise.
Yet, there is also comfort in these words; comfort beyond our understanding. There is hope. Yes, Edna is physically dead; she is physically not with us any longer. Oh, how it pains us to say that.
And yet, she does still live, right? She was a strong, powerful, beautiful woman of faith in Jesus Christ. That informed and shaped her life. So, Edna does still live through us who knew her, right? What she taught us cannot be taken away, can it? The example of her steadfast faith in God and in Jesus Christ cannot be taken away from us who were strengthened by it. The love she showed us in so many ways, is still with us, right? The ways we loved her, also strengthened us and taught us about life and those things we learned cannot be taken away from us, right?
Oh, how we wish she could have been with us longer and yet, she still lives. It is up to us to take all she gave to us and live our best lives and pass her legacy on to others. That is how Edna never dies.
Edna’s daughter, Karen Lee, told me about a dream she had a couple of days ago. In the dream, Edna had a little red car. Can’t you just see Edna in a little red car? What a delightful vision. While Karen Lee was with her mother for awhile, eventually, Edna had to leave and went off down the road in her little red car.
Edna, we pray your little red car has taken you to a blissful paradise. And we promise that you will be with us in our hearts forever.
Amen
