The Life of the Servant of Christ Jesus

 

Kay Crane Funeral - December 13, 2013

The Rev. Kenneth R. Elkin

 

It is a victory song!

It is a victory song, this passage we heard  from Isaiah.

On that day, that great and final day, a victory song will be sung.

Its verses are clear and its refrain everlasting.

It is not the song  of our victory, but of God's.

The Lord God has prevailed over every enemy, including death.

It is the Lord who forgives our sin against God and against neighbor.

It is the Lord who puts back together human community that has been fractured.

It is the Lord who will not let anything stand in the way of the completion of his intention for us.

This is a victory song: Trust in the Lord forever; for in the Lord God you have an everlasting rock.

 

That is the truth; that is the faith proclaimed in these lessons that Kay wanted us to hear today.

But it is so hard for us to hold that truth first in our hearts and minds on days like this.

It is easier to say “death won.” and trudge off in silence.

 

These past several years have been very difficult for Kay; she had more ups and downs than a Knobel's Grove roller-coaster.

Often she could not speak, or more than whistle, although a few weeks ago when I saw her, she was able to manage complete sentences during the visit and share in Holy Communion.

Some time back, when conversation was easier to manage, Kay told me that she thought that she had accomplished about as much as she could, and was looking forward to being with the Lord.

She wasn't thinking about it particularly, but in fact she had much more yet to give.

She had to teach us about perseverance in the face of great difficulty.

She had to demonstrate to us calmness in spite of her own mortal danger.

She lived out her trust in the promises of the Lord Jesus, made to her in Holy Baptism, all the way to her death and the beginning of new life in the resurrection.

And she selected these hymns and lessons for us to speak and sing to each other in the name of the Lord Jesus on this day.

And they were chosen with thoughtful care.

Her quiet confidence is expressed in the first hymn that we sang, “Children of the Heavenly Father.”

Neither life nor death shall ever

From the Lord his children sever.

Unto them his grace he showeth,

And their sorrows all he knoweth. [LBW#474.3]

 

In the Third Reading today, we heard Paul speaking about himself and the task that was given to him; to be a servant of the church to make the word of God known among the people in everything he says and does.

I hear that lesson today speaking of Kay's life and work also.

Her preaching of the Word of God took form in her work especially with children's choirs.

Some years back when she had to give up her larger apartment, she entrusted some of her well-loved music to Donna and me, in hopes that it could get into use again.

It is he whom we proclaim...Christ in you , the hope of glory...with all the energy that he powerfully inspires within me, Paul concludes and we apply  to Kay as well.

Those were the words of Paul as a teacher.

Kay as a language teacher understood the power of words well-chosen and delivered, particularly when they are not our own words, but spring from God's own Word.

 

Oh, the depths of the riches and knowledge and wisdom of God, Paul exclaims to the Romans, for from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever.

That giving of thanks and praise is the first part of what our lives as followers of Christ should be.

And then Paul goes on to challenge us to recognize the rest of our life as a “living sacrifice” in contrast to the sacrifices of dead animals of old.

There is no way that we can pay off the debt we owe for our life in connection with Christ Jesus.

No merit of my own I claim,

But wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When all supports are washed away,

He then is all my hope and stay...

Clothed in his righteousness alone,

Redeemed to stand before the throne.[LBW#294]

That is how Kay asked us to sing it in just a few moments.

Because that is what is true not only for Paul in the first century, or a hymn-writer in the 19^th century, but also it is true for Kay's life,  and for us for today and tomorrow.

We are to be a living sacrifice of worship to God and service to our neighbor.

 

And that brings us back to our First Reading today, that victory song from Isaiah.

God is the maker of covenant and promises.

God keeps all his promises, too.

God is the giver of tasks to do and the resources to accomplish them.

God asks us to be living sacrifice, and inspires us to continue.

God is victorious over everything that gets in his way, including sin and death.

God promises us a place in the victory as well.

Yes, it should be a victory song that we sing.

 

Marion reminded me the other day that Kay and her husband and so many others are already started in the heavenly party without us.

Our Holy Communion is the appetizer for that great and final feast.

And so as we prepare to leave this place today our song will be almost a dance.

Let all things now living

a song of thanksgiving

To God the creator triumphantly raise,

Who fashioned and made us,

Protected and stayed us,

Who still guides us on

to the end of our days.[LBW#557]

 

So,  it turns out that Kay, who thought she didn't have much more to do, gave us a final gift today.

With her choices of lessons and hymns, she has pointed us to the important things of life and death and new life in Christ Jesus.

She is a very good teacher, following St. Paul and the rest.

And she asks us to sing it all to each other.

So let's get busy, as our best way to honor her memory.

Amen.