Funeral - Eckhoff

Dear congregation, friends, and especially family, may the promise that is found only in and through the resurrection of Jesus Christ give you comfort this day.

There’s a tremendous blessing that comes with Christian funerals. That blessing is the fact the listeners are attentive, and the realities of the temporality of lifer are ever evident as we gather before the mortal remains of a dear loved one. Specifically, for the Christian, this gathering is done certainly out of respect for the family, and appreciation for the life given to the one who has died. But more importantly, the Christian gathers on a day such as today because of the eternal benevolence - the eternal promise - poured upon and within the heart, soul, and mind, by way of God’s love.

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness,” on a day such as today. Yes, as Christians we have a sense of joy when one dies in the faith, but there’s an obvious weakness that flows with out tears as the heart is fond of those close to us. Love is a precious gift given to all and that love attaches us one to another. When that bond is rent asunder by way of death, it hurts. It’s okay to have sorrow and sadness. But dear friends, have confidence in what God’s Word promises: “the Spirit himself intercedes” as your groanings are too deep for words. In that intercession, you find peace, once again, in the benevolent reality of a loving God.

This benevolence of God came to Richard in his greatest need as it was through the waters of Baptism that the Lord brought Richard to the greatest peace he would ever know - and upon which he would regular stand as a child of God - his baptismal faith. The faith given to Richard through God’s love for him is the only reason we can gather in this place this day. It’s this faith that pointed Richard to answer of his very and real need of regular forgiveness, the often reception of the Lord’s body and blood, and the living out of faith as he would go about his days. We praise God this day for the gifts of grace and mercy poured upon and into the life of Richard.

Now, as you and I both know, Richard wasn’t perfect. Sure, it’s very easy to view our loved ones at times as such. But he’d likely be the first to tell you that he wasn’t. And when he’d gather in the Lord’s house, or in these last days, when the church would come to him, he’d confess such as truth. “I a poor miserable sinner...” This ever so unpopular reality of sin is what many wish would never be mentioned. But here, on a day such as this, sin is very clear to us. For afterall, the wages of sin is…death. Death becomes all humanity whether you wish to address it or not. Sin is the bad apple in this orchard of life that indeed ruins the entire crop.

Left to yourself, there’s no getting away from it. Left away from the truth, the death you face is hopeless. But recall, we gather this day not because of hopelessness, but just the opposite. The benevolence of God shown through the giving of His one and only Son for all humanity is the hope that dries our tears this day. “For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…and those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified.” Those words of hope assure you that the blessed nature of your - of Richard’s - forgiveness of sin found in the blood of Jesus Christ mark you - mark Richard as one who is glorified. This is the hope found only in the promises of God’s Word - expressed purely in His Sacraments.

From the moment Richard breathed his last breath upon this earth, your life, dear friends, has been changed. The one you held close, the one you love as father, grandfather, great-grandfather, or whatever relation or friendship connected you is no longer here. His temporal reality is no longer. And as weird as it may seem to say, we give thanks for that. He rested his final days comfortably and in peace. Richard now rests from his labors. And we thank God. We thank God for the many good things he gave Richard to do. We thank God for the faith upon which he stood. We thank God that he’s been delivered from the darkness that is this shadow of the valley of death. “Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free.”

As you go about your days adjusting to the new normal, do so in faith. Come. Continue or return to the place your Lord has promised to be with you. Here in the Church the Lord will serve you His grace regularly through the blessing of Word and Sacrament. Here in this place your sins will be forgiven. Here in this place you will find refuge from the assaults of the evil one and the wiles of the world. Here in this place you can rest assured that the benevolent reality of the Lord will constantly be poured upon you.

In this mercy and grace, dear friends, may you find peace. For it is in peace that your love one now rests. May we all be enveloped by the same gift of peace upon our last breaths. And in such reality, may we look foreward to the resurrection of all the faithful from the dead. May Richard Eckhoff rest in peace.