Held Together

 

Russell Smith Funeral - July 14, 2013

The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin

 

It has been a battle.

Everyone who has been close to Russ in these past many months has sensed how harsh a battle it has been.

When Russ finally consented to go for examination, and when the medical folks had at great length finally come up with a mile-long name for the rare and dangerous disease, everyone knew that he was engaged in a dreadfully difficult battle.

It is the aim of illness and death to fracture, to break apart, and  destroy.

They think that they have won, but we are gathered today to say Not so!

Illness and death have only taken a skirmish, but the war has already been won in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And that is the Good News for the day.

 

It would hardly be a surprise to anyone if I described Russ as argumentative.

Both here and in Florida, Russ has had spirited discussions with the pastors of the congregations  where he and Lois have belonged.

One of our ongoing talks has been about the resurrection, whether it takes place at a person's death or all at once at the end of time.

Russ pointed to some scripture passages, and I cited other ones.

He wanted a definitive answer to the question, but I said that I was quite content to let the matter rest in the Lord's hands; he will be quite capable to handle the matter in his good time and in the way he desires, and it will be wonderful.

That drove Russ crazy.

The important part of the question is tied up in the call and response we use throughout the Easter season:

            Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Everything else in our faith is connected to and flows from that affirmation.

 

This observation leads us to say that the Gospels were likely written backwards.

That is, the death and resurrection of Jesus are the things that first make an impact on people, and then other stories are gradually remembered and collected to explain it further.

Some have described the gospels as passion stories with extended introductions!

In the Gospel of John, that introduction goes all the way back to the very start of all.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning...All things came into being through him, ...the light of all people.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.

 

There are so many who say that this world is junk, that life is not worth living, that there is no God and no hope for anything good to happen.

That is not the language of the Bible, is it?

From Genesis 1 we remember the refrain “Good, very good” repeated about creation many times.

And the Psalmist today exclaims: O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom you have made them all....you send forth your Spirit and they are created, and so you renew the face of the earth.

This is the arena for the work of the Spirit; this is the place where the Word becomes flesh for us and for all.

This is an honored place. Why? Just because God has chosen.

Russell, together with all the baptized of past and present, are honored persons. Why? Just because God so chooses us and connects us.

Later in John's Gospel, Jesus says I am the vine and you are the branches”  and it is clear that we have life because of our connection to him; we are in association with other persons because of our connection through him; we bear the fruit and do the things that he desires because of our connection with him.

These are some of the big ideas with which Paul was wrestling in Colossians in the passage we read a few minutes ago, when he says ...all things have been created through him and for him...and in him all things hold together.

It is how we make the ultimate sense of all creation.

 

Over the past number of months, Russ had been reading books on astronomy, and puzzling over things like Carl Saga and the “billions and billions of stars.”

The huge numbers and vast distances are just too much for our brains to really comprehend.

We struggle and in that struggle are in danger of beginning to worship science rather than God.

Fortunately we have the witness of scripture to point us in the right direction.

It is in Christ Jesus that all things hold together.

The things that make no sense to us now – vile personal  illnesses, wars and bloodshed among us here on earth, and the great distances of space and the stars beyond – will find their rhyme in the life of our risen Lord Jesus.

Russ wanted every argument settled definitively; and they are, just not on his time-table.

 

And finally, he knew it, too.

A few days ago, several of us went out and sang hymns in his hospital room.

After we sang and Sara played flute, Russ made a request that we sing one more, Abide with Me. And so we did:

 

Abide with me, fast falls the eventide.

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide.

When other helpers fail and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

 

I need thy presence every passing hour;

What but thy grace can foil the temper's power?

Who like thyself my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, oh, abide with me.

 

I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless;

Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness.

Where is death's sting? Where, grave thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

 

And then we left the room.

 

Even when all else fails, we are still held together in Christ Jesus.

Let all the baptized say... Amen.