Funeral
Sermon for Alfred Nelson, based on Ps 23 & Jn 3:16; by Pastor Garth
Wehrfritz-Hanson; Pattison Funeral Chapel; July 31, 2014.
Alfred
Lawrence Nelson, a father, grandfather, and child of God is no longer with us.
After a long and full life of 93 years, Alfred became increasingly tired, and
on the appointed day, last Sunday, God decided to give him rest, and let him
pass peacefully from this life.
Alfred, among other things, was a very
curious, yet solitary person. He was a thinker-philosopher-sage; interested in
what was going on in the world. He enjoyed engaging in deep conversations about
such subjects as: philosophy, theology, history, politics and economics. He
wished that more people would take a greater interest in what was going on in
the world and work to try and solve the world’s problems.
Alfred was something of a computer whiz too,
even making his own programs. He was also a generous soul, making donations to
a lot of charities. He helped seniors with their income tax, and treated others
with respect.
Alfred had a very deep faith. On more than
one occasion, he told me that he always believed in the divinity of Christ and
that he is the Saviour of the world. One
of his deep desires was that his family members have this faith in the LORD
too. Whenever I visited Alfred, he always appreciated taking time to read the
Bible and have a brief devotion and prayer with him, as well as receiving the
Lord’s Supper.
When I spoke with Alfred about his funeral
service, he told me that “Abide With Me” was one of his favourite hymns. And so
today we included it in this service. “Abide With Me” was written by the Rev.
Henry Francis Lyte, who served as minister in Brixham, Devon, England. In
Brixham, every evening at six o’clock, the chimes of the church there
play Rev. Lyte’s hymn “Abide With Me,” as an evening blessing and prayer
embracing all of the townsfolk. A prayer that has now been answered for Alfred
in a more complete way as his Saviour came to take him to himself and to his
permanent, heavenly home.
I like the title of this hymn, because it
affirms what the twenty-third Psalm and John 3:16 have to say regarding God’s
abiding presence. Psalm 23 and John 3:16 were two of Alfred’s favourite Bible
passages, which he chose for this funeral service. The hymn complements the two
passages in that it underscores the divine presence throughout life as well as
in the face of death.
Speaking of music, the twenty-third Psalm,
in addition to being the most popular Bible passage for scores of people, also
has inspired many musicians over the centuries and even today to set the words
of the psalm to music. So there are a wide variety of settings—everything from
medieval plainchants, classical choral settings, to popular folk tunes, and, if
one searched further, I wouldn’t be surprised to discover even rock and country
renditions, and beyond. That reminds me of one occasion when I visited Alfred
and happened to have a hymnal along with me, and offered to sing an Irish hymn
setting of the psalm, titled, “The King of love my shepherd is,” perhaps some
of you also know it and have sung it. At any rate, Alfred just loved it, and
thanked me repeatedly for singing it, finding much comfort in the psalm’s
reassuring words.
Speaking of comfort, even though the
original context of Psalm twenty-three was not likely that of a funeral
service—nonetheless millions of people continue to choose it for funeral
services because of its comforting message. God as a shepherd providing for the
needs of his sheep; protecting them from danger and harm; leading them to safe
places. Even when death draws near we do not have to fear any evil; since God
our shepherd is with us leading us through the door of death. The psalmist’s
hope was most likely not the absence of trouble, but rather in God’s
protective, loving presence. So too for us. God does not promise to spare us
from all kinds of trouble; rather he has promised to be with us always.
That reminds me of the following wise words
of Julian of Norwich, who on one occasion said: “God has not promised that you
will never be tempted, troubled or distressed; but God has promised that you
will never be overcome.”
The last two verses of Psalm 23 shift the
focus from God being like a shepherd to God a loving, generous host and perhaps
even a chef who prepares and serves a banquet feast. In the LORD’s eternal
home, the psalmist declares that he is in a perfect state of being: “Surely
goodness and mercy shall pursue me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell
in the house of the LORD forever.”
What a wonderful promise that is from God; a
promise made to Alfred; a promise also made to everyone here in this place. No
matter what you might be feeling today—and not all of you may have the same
feelings, since God created each one of us as a unique human being—no matter
what you happen to be feeling, God will walk through it with you and love you
in the midst of all your thoughts and feelings. Whether you have joyous
memories, or anger, hurt, grief, even despair—God will walk with you if only
you will let him.
Why is this true? Because of the Good News
of John 3:16: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Martin
Luther said so powerful is the promise in these words that it captures the
whole message of the Gospel; it is the Gospel in miniature; summarizing the
essence of who God is and what God is up to in this world and in your life and
mine. The message is about God’s love. Love so great that there is enough of it
for the whole world; for you and for me and everyone else. Love so generous, so
superabundant that it never stops, never runs out, never ends! Alfred loved
these words of John 3:16, and trusted in the truth of them. I hope, with the
work of God the Holy Spirit, that you will be able to do the same. Amen.
