Sharon Denecky Funeral

Sharon Denecky was a kind, gentle soul. She was a person with a big heart, who loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren, and they all loved her. She was someone who was rich in spirit.

It can be hard to notice people like Sharon. She always sat in the back row of the church. She connected with a few members, but she wasn’t a flashy kind of person. She wasn’t up front, she never drew attention to herself. She never put herself forward to gain attention. In fact, she kept a lot to herself. And yet, God has made a big impact through her.

One day, when Jesus and his disciples were visiting the temple in Jerusalem, they sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched people put their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people put in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Jesus told his disciples, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into thge treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all that she had to live on.”

Sometimes we can look at external things, like wealth, health, fame and think, wow, those people really have it going for them. Wow, God must be really pleased with them, look how he’s blessed them.

But time and again, Jesus turns it all upside down. God was more pleased with this widow’s offering because it revealed her total faith and trust in God. She gave, not knowing what would happen next. Would God provide more funds for her? Would she starve? Would she have to sell some of her possessions just to make ends meet?

And yet, in that state of poverty, she gave, why?

She trusted God, regardless of her circumstances. Her heart, like Sharon’s trusted in God, in a very quiet, unassuming, way. Sharon didn’t draw people’s attention to herself. She was content, knowing she had God’s attention.

She knew she could trust God. She knew that He was with her on her journey. All of life is a journey. We are all pilgrims, and so it is fitting that we’re looking at this afternoon. was sung or recited by the Israelites as they made pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It wasn’t an easy climb, and there were thieves and wicked people who tried to take advantage of them along the way.

And so, people looked for security. People looked for ways in which they could protect themselves. Some people advocated worshipping other gods, pointing out to them as the means for security and safety. Still others advocated for paying for human security, bodygards. Still others would have suggested exercising, martial arts, carrying some heat, a sword, spear, or dagger, perhaps. There would have been a roaring trade in all kinds of things.

But the psalmist knew where true strength, true help comes from. Our help doesn’t come from the false gods who were worshipped on the hills, the high places. True help doesn’t come from other people—though God blesses us with people who do help us! Our help doesn’t come from our diet or exercises, or personal safety programs.

No, true help comes from God, the maker of heaven and earth. God watches over us. He will not let us lose our footing. He is perfectly, always, totally presently attendive. His mind doesn’t wander, he doesn’t succumb to sleepiness.

The Lord watches over you 24/7. He protects you in ways you don’t even realise. Nothing under the watches of day or night can harm you.

The Lord will watch over you your whole life. He will keep you from the evil one. That’s the simple trust Sharon had. She trusted the Lord. She trusted that he would, he did, watch over her. The Lord healed her of cancer 23 years ago. The Lord watched over her life, and cared for her during her last months of illness when cancer came back.

This Psalm was sung while people were on their way to the temple in Jerusalem. They prayed this prayer, trusting God to get them there and home again. Still and all, they faced real, physical danger.

But the point of going to the temple wasn’t to go to the building. It was to connect with God. This psalm isn’t just about physical stuff. It is about spiritual stuff. It isn’t just about going from one place on earth to another. It is about going from earth to the new heaven and the new earth. In that journey, God promises to watch over our coming and going, now—in our earthly journeys—and forevermore, our journey to be with him forever.

The Lord watched over Sharon’s coming and her going. She trust him, and he brought her home. It will be hard for us who remain. Let the tears flow. Tend to your grief.

But take a look at this simple saint. She gave her heart to God. She trusted that he would carry her home, because he is the way, the truth and the life.

So, this is the question for all of us. Do we trust that Jesus, the eternal Son of God is the way, the truth and the life? Do we believe, as Sharon did, that Jesus paid for all our sins, by dying on the cross? Do we believe that he was raised from the dead, that his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted by God the Father? Do we believe that Jesus ascended into heaven, and that he has sent God the Holy Spirit on all who belive, gifting them with faith?

Respond to the Holy Spirit. Trust in God. Trust in Jesus. And he will lead you to where he is, where Sharon is, and where all who believe have gone already. He is watching over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. Amen.