Funeral Agnes Berner
Funeral – Agnes (Keup) Berner
Romans 3:22-24
March 11, 2006
“The Journey Home”
Introduction: __________, family and friends of Agnes. The basis of our meditation to day is Romans 3:22-24 "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Agnes has been on a long journey to home. Now, she has been called home and given a glorious resting place. This call home was given to her many years ago and it began with these words, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
With those words, we again celebrate Agnes’s time on this earth the same way her real journey home began. She was baptized into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. God redeemed her and made her an heir of eternal life. For over 102 years, the Lord has been with Agnes; and his promises to her never fell short. Not even once. That is why we take comfort even at a time as sad and solemn as today. For we know that, thanks to Jesus Christ, Agnes has been given a glorious resting place. She has been given eternal glory even though her life was not always glorious.
Agnes journeyed through this life like all Christians are supposed to do, trusting in the Word of God and the promise of eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. She clung to the promises of God in Christ, that she would have an eternal resting place at his side.
I’m sure that one of the promises of God that was of great comfort for her is in the sermon text for today. "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Part of that reading is not good news. It reminds us that we are sinful. We have not measured up to what God demands, which is a perfect life. God fully expects us to love him above all people and all things, and to love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves. He also says that he will condemn anyone who falls short. You and I have. Agnes did too. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Agnes’s life was not glorious. She knew that herself. She confessed that every time she confessed her sins in church and received the absolution from her husband and pastor. We know, and Agnes knew, that she did not earn heaven, her real home. She knew as you and I know that we all deserve--God’s punishment and eternity in hell.
But that is not what Agnes has been given. No, Agnes has been given a glorious resting place. Agnes knew that when the God of all grace called her out of this world she would be exactly where she is. She spent her life on earth journeying to the places that God called her to, with her husband. She often lived as an alien, far from home, family and friends. As a pastor/s wife, doing all the things that pastor’s wives do, raising her family, supporting her church and most of all, being the emotional, and yes even spiritual support of her husband, a called and ordained servant of the Lord, she too was called into the ministry. It is a tremendously difficult job. The pressures of life and ministry flowed into her life, even though she and her husband were not always able to talk about the difficulties. This is because pastors aren’t supposed to talk about their work, especially the most emotional and trying parts. So silently they struggled together. They shared the joy of ministry, of sharing the wonderful love of God given to us through His Son Jesus Christ. Then when Edwin died she continued her journey home as she continued to bare witness to her Savior, the one who died for her and now freely gives her an eternal home. Through her life she taught God’s promises and knew the importance of the word of God which tells us that adults and children are born sinful and in need of salvation. Again, "There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Agnes knew about the covenant which God made with her at her baptism. She was forgiven through His death on the cross. He was the door to her eternal home. There fore the Lord has welcomed her home to her heavenly mansion, to the place He has prepared for her.
Her journey home is over. It was a journey that started here in Wisconsin, to Kansas, and now her body has been brought home again where it will rest until the resurrection of all flesh. She reminds me of the old testament saints, Abraham and Sarah. Read text. They were aliens and the only property they ever owned was a grave at Macpelah. It was the same grave that Joseph’s bones were returned to after 400 hundred years in Egypt. And when these all died the scriptures state that they were gathered to their people. They are no dead with no hope. No they have, like Agnes has, been gathered together with all their loved ones who have gone before in the faith. Aunt Agnes’ journey home is complete.
Today, we commit the body of Agnes Berner (Keup) to the ground, confident that her soul is with the Lord in heaven. We are also confident that on the Last Day, Jesus will come and raise this body to be reunited with her soul to dwell in the glory of heaven forever more. That was the confidence that Agnes herself expressed while she was on this earth. We thank God that he revealed her Savior to her. And you and I can have this same confidence too. For "there is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Jesus Christ has redeemed us from our sins too. So when our end comes, we also can look forward to receiving a glorious resting place--not because our lives are glorious, because Jesus makes us glorious, just as he did for Agnes. Amen.