Loading...Sermon February 14, 2021
The Rev. Rebecca S. Myers,
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Last Sunday after Epiphany, Year B
http://lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Epiphany/BEpiLast_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Eucharist_Feb_14_2021
Video: https://youtu.be/vKEp9R3a0DI
But Elisha said, ‘As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.’ 2 Kings 2:2
It has been over 20 years since I worked as a social worker in hospice. The work, dare I say ministry, there greatly influenced my life. There were so many lessons I learned that have stayed with my ever since. I’ve often said if someone would pay me to hold the hands of people at the end of their lives, I would be a very happy person.
Isn’t that one of the heartbreaks of this pandemic? That so many people are dying and their families cannot be with them. We are so grateful for the health care professionals and workers in hospitals who provide the human presence to people who are dying. We know the toll on them is great.
Being a companion to someone at the end of their life is not something many of us feel capable of doing. In our culture, we do not readily speak about death and dying. In addition, we live in a time of so many medical marvels and death is not as close to us as in previous times…even in our own lifetimes. Think about the difference antibiotics have made, for instance.
So, no, accompanying someone in the transition time from life on this physical earth to what awaits us beyond is challenging.
In our Lesson reading today, though, we read about Elijah and Elisha. Elijah, the still-venerated prophet knows he is about to die. Elisha, the successor to Elijah and his companion, is with him. Elijah keeps telling Elisha to stay behind in Bethel. But Elisha refuses to stay behind. When they reach Bethel, the other prophets come out to make sure Elisha knows that Elijah will die this die. Elisha says he knows. Elisha refuses to leave Elijah. Each time Elijah encourages Elisha to stay behind, Elisha says, “As the Lord lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.”
Elisha refuses to leave Elijah until finally a chariot of fire and horses of fire separate the two of them and Elijah ascends in a whirlwind to heaven.
Elisha says, “I will not leave you.” He stays with Elijah. Yes, once Elijah is gone from this earth, Elisha is deeply bereaved. He tears his own clothes in his grief. Staying with Elijah did not lessen his grief, yet I have to believe that being a companion to Elijah during his time of dying from this world, was a blessing to both of them.
That’s how I felt for the most part, when I worked in hospice. The stories I heard from those dying and from their families were amazing. Whether it was the ones who saw angels all around their room or the ones who heard angel choirs singing to them or the ones who saw a loved one or even a beloved pet as they were dying, the stories were amazing to me and comforting. They definitely reminded me that God is in charge.
I don’t know how many of you saw the story on the local newscaster Rob Hanrahan. He has recently retired. This past summer, he had a major heart attack. The story is truly amazing. During the night he woke up and his wife said it seemed like he was in pain, but he says,
“I went back to sleep. And I went into this dream. It was very vivid that we were in this ballroom with these people at a health seminar, and my phone blows up, and I look at it, we're all connected by phone to the doctor at the front, it was a female doctor and she said Robb, the text read Robb get to a hospital immediately. Either your right or your left is 100 percent blocked. The other side is 80 percent blocked. Call an ambulance.”
So, he woke up and did call the ambulance and get to the hospital. While there, he had a major heart attack and he actually died. They resuscitated him twice. But here is what he said he experienced after “dying.”
“Everything got peaceful. And I knew that I was dead. I felt so connected. I didn't feel alone. I wasn't scared. It was dark. It was cool but it was warm. I can't describe the feeling, other than I felt the light and energy of everybody around me and I could feel the energy, not the people, the energy surrounded around me. I was all curled up and just saying I'm good here. But boy, it was a place I've never been, and it gives me great hope.”
He says he could feel the light and energy of everyone around him. And, I would say, probably people who were not nearby, but still praying for him or concerned about him. He was not alone.
That is why our prayers each week and during the week are so important. When we pray, we let people know, “I will not leave you,” and “You are not alone.” They feel our energy and our light coming to them and surrounding them. The feeling is comforting and hopeful. We are connected.
I am so grateful for this worshiping community we have. Together we walk with people during all of the joys and challenges of their lives. Together our prayers bring light, love, comfort and hope.
Amen
Rob Hanrahan Story, Part I: https://local21news.com/news/local/from-death-and-back-robb-hanrahan-shares-his-unbelievable-story-of-survival-and-hope
