Funeral, John 12:12-26 (2025)

Funeral,, 2025

Laihae Sullivan Funeral Home, Cornwall

John 12:12-26

These past few days, as we finished putting together the plans for Mary’s funeral, I learned, from her beloved son Henry, that herfavorite Scripture, the one that was always on her lips,was the people’s cry of Hosanna.

A Hebrew phrase, pulled from Psalm 118, and cited by the Jews when they ushered Jesus into the City of Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, - the phrase HOSANNA, means, SAVE US, NOW. I know, a lot of people think of it as a joyous, celebratory, boisterous kind of anthem. But its really not. Its a cry of desperation FOR SOMETHING BETTER to finally come. For the salvation of Jesus Christ to be finally, fully – fulfilled – in our midst.

I think that is a deeply fitting, and deeply relevant thing for us to reflect on right now, as we usher her into the promised Kingdom of her Lord Jesus Christ. Save us – now. Especially as, we reflect upon death and its meaning. On loss, and its meaning. On grief, and its meaning. For us here, left behind. And for all those as they pass through into eternity. Save us – now.

For we are now here mourning. And those who pass, are those who are suffering. And with all of this is is a great deal of pain. And we can try to cover that up all we want with celebrations of life, and a meditation on the good memories that were had beforehand but no matter what we try, we cannot wash away the realityof the pain and suffering and loss that we feel through these things. Andno mater how hard we try to convince ourselves otherwise, these things of suffering, and death, and loss, are not God’s will. And they are not good. That something here is wrong, and not as it should be. Not as it ought to be. That we need GOD to make this right.

And so, I come here not to tell you, ignore your suffering and be happy, or , forget the pain and focus on the good memories. – But I come to tell you that Mary herself, knew at all times, of the importance of calling out to God IN THE MIDST OF SUFFERING, the cry of Hosanna. – save us, now. This is the prayer WE should be praying, right now. As we remember her. And this is the prayer that she prayed herself, all her life.

For in the past few years that I’ve had the privilege of getting to know her,, she would always say, from the very first time I ever met her, until the very last time that she spoke to me, - “pastor, im ready to go. Pastor, I am ready for the Lord to take me. Pastor, I want to be with my Lord.” And why? It wasn’t because she just didn't want to live. Not out of some kind of escapist impulse to run away from the pain. But because she knew, in Christ, was where true life was had. That to die in the love of the Lord is to be born to life everlasting. That in Christ, - the Sun does not set, and the dark does not rise. This she knew. And so she would say to me, not in Hebrew (as Hosanna), but in English, - Pastor I am ready. Which means, SHE DID NOT FEAR death, as many of us do. Nor its long dark shadow. But rather, SHE LONGED to walk THROUGH this long dark valley, behind her good shepherd, TOWARD the green pastures of life everlasting on the other side. Why? BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED there was one.

In her final days, in which I gave her last rites, not once but THREE times, (to the point that I almost became convinced that she was immortal)this was all that I could think about. Hossanna, save us now. Hossana, take me now. Hosanna, RECEIVE ME NOW. I am ready. She would say if she could. I am ready. Hosanna. For this is what thatmeans.

A fitting thing it is too, that we hold this funeral in Advent. And so we have entered into this Liturgy, with the singing of a deeply fitting advent Hymn. Comfort, comfort, ye my people. And what was that hymn about? The same thing that Hosanna is about, REALLY. Save us now. Is it not?

Comfort my people. Speak peace to those who suffer turbulence and war. “Comfort those who sit in darkness, to those mourning beneath their sorrows load. Speak to Jerusalem of the peace that waits for them; tell my people that their sins are covered. Tell them that their war is over. Tell them that they can REST now, in me. For their fight is finished. What is the hymn abut? A people who have dwelt in darkness – WHO finally through the comfort of the Gospel, have the light of dawn break in upon them. The people who were yet dead in sin, being brought by the Word of resurrection hope TO RESURRECTED LIFE. A people who longed to be saved – who now receive the Word of God’s promise, that they have been. That salvation has now come. That light has now dawned. That life has now risen. That her plea has been answered. And what plea? Hosanna, save me, now.

And this is the meaning of this hymn. Comfort comfort, ye my people – comfort those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. Comfort those who remember their fallen. And with what news? That the Lord has heard Mary’s cries, and He has saved her, NOW. That she no longer mourns. She no longer weeps. She no longer feels pain or sorrow anymore. but what? But God – and God alone. And so we have sung: She hath suffered many-a day, now her griefs have passed away; God will change her pining sadness into ever-springing gladness. And what is this?

The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, And the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose;It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, Even with joy and singing. Say to those who arefearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come withvengeance, Withthe recompense of God; He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, And the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then the lame shall leap like a deer, And the tongue of the dumb sing. For waters shall burst forthin the wilderness, And streamsin the desert.The parched ground shall become a pool, And the thirsty land springs of water… And sorrow and sighing shall flee away

Beloved, - what is this? You have wept. Yes. And that is good, for you have suffered a loss. Ye,t - want to press this upon you. Not to find consolation in looking at the good ofMary’s Past as though yesterday was the best hope that today can grasp., as though the best has already come and past us by. As though all we have left of Mary is memories of what once was.

No. – none of that is true.

For there is yet a tomorrow. There is indeed, TRULY, a today. For God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. And those who die in Christ, die to death, and live to God, alive, forever more.

And This is the news. Mary longed for salvation. And so she cried out to God all her life, the great cry of “Hosanna.” - save us Lord, - save us now. And He has... as the Great Litany says: by His incarnation and Holy Birth, by His Baptism, fasting, and temptation, by His suffering, death, and burial. By His resurrection and ascension. He has saved us. He has poured out His cleansing blood upon us. He has taken our humanity into Himself, and He has filled it up with Himself, giving to us His righteousness, taking from us our sin and death. And putting all things right, THROUGH HIS DEATH, and by His resurrection. And He has given this to us in His Word of promise, and in the feast of His own flesh and blood. In the Word of His Holy Absolution. And in the cleansing flood of Baptism that He has plunged us deep into, - He has saved us. – He has saved HER. For she cried out to the God of life, who rose up Lazarus form the grave. Who shook open the tombs of His saints on Easter morn. And who is coming again to judge the living and the dead. And He answered. For He has claimed her, and He has cleansed her, and He has called her, and now He has taken her unto Himself in heaven. – and so we say - what has He done? He has saved her.

For she called for salvation to God of salvation. And so He has heard her. He has led her through the gates of righteousness. He has brought her into His own arms through the gates of His mercy. And brought her into the depth of His love. He has saved her. She is secure. She is where He is. And where He is, death is not. For she does not die. But lives. She is not dead. But alive. For she cried out to God for Him to save her, - and so He has.

Hosanna. Hosanna. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna to the Son of David. Hosanna to the King of Kings. Hosanna to the God who saves, - and who lifts up His people, to bear them away from all trial and tribulation,, from this veil of tears, to Himself in heaven.

Hosanna. – save us, Lord. – she cried. And He did.

Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God.

He will come with vengeance,

He will come and save you

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also

I tell you truly. – Mary has died in Christ. And so, SHE IS ALIVE, FOREVER MORE, with Him, in heaven, and she – will – rise – again. Glory to God forever amen