Funeral: Jaclyn Padrón

Greeting

2 Corintios 1:3–4 NIV

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corintios 1:3–4 NVI

Alabado sea el Dios y Padre de nuestro Señor Jesucristo, Padre misericordioso y Dios de toda consolación, quien nos consuela en todas nuestras tribulaciones para que con el mismo consuelo que de Dios hemos recibido, también nosotros podamos consolar a todos los que sufren.

We gather in this house of worship to mourn the loss of Jaqueline Padrón, daughter to Rufina and Francisco, sister to Refugio, Alexis, Abram, and Natalie; a cousin, niece, granddaughter and a friend to many.

It is not a service of celebration. It is indeed a sad occasion as we lay to rest a young woman.

In one sense, we should not be here.

As the news made its way to each of us, we were initially in shock, unable to believe or accept the fact of what had occurred.

Unfortunately is is all too real, particularly for the family whose heart aches for their beloved Jackie.

However, we gather in a house of worship, in a place where the living God is worshipped Sunday after Sunday for we know:

It is God the Father, God’s son - Jesus Christ, who has promised to be a compassionate father, a comforter to all who are facing troubles.

We gather in a house of worship because we know that nothing in this world can truly provide us comfort.

Friends and family, I invite you to look to the God of the Bible to find comfort, only he can truly ease your pain. Look to Jesus Christ. After all, he is the Creator, he is the giver of life, he is the one that gives and takes away.

Do not be angry at God, do not question God’s ways, we are mere human creatures, God’s Creation; rather, let us look to him and ask him to soothe our pain and to give us comfort.

…and as we receive comfort, let us bring comfort to this hurting family.

Cry out to God. Cry out for his comfort. He will surely bring you comfort and peace so that you may comfort this hurting family, and many other hurting families who are facing similar circumstances or will face similar circumstances.

Let us sing: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus / Fija Tus Ojos En Cristo

This hymn speaks about turning our eyes away from the pain, away from our problems, away from life’s circumstances, and looking unto Jesus.

It is good to be realistic about this experience

We gather in a house of worship where Sunday by Sunday God’s word is preached.

God’s word is truth.

Therefore, when we preach his word, we preach his truth.

Jackie was 18 years old and would’ve had many years ahead of her. For this we mourn and are greatly saddened.

Tragic accidents are specific kinds of events that we try to think how they could have been avoided.

We try to think if what we could have done to prevent that tragic accident that look away our loved ones.

The reality is that one decision or a series of decisions / choices determine certain outcomes.

…and even as we gather to comfort the family...

…even as we gather to give God thanks for the 18 years that God allowed Jackie to be with her family...

…we also gather knowing that one day others will come to a place just like this to mourn for the loss of our life.

One day, our loved ones will gather to say goodbye to us.

One day, our friends and family will shed tears for we will no longer be with them.

…and I think this is why we come up with these fantasies that those who have died become angels, or butterflies, or simply their presence is with us as if they were guardian angels.

We come up with these ideas because we are afraid that we do not know what comes next.

Therefore, since we do not know, we come up with certain ideas that are pleasant and nice to think about.

However, even as we would not put our trust in the tooth fairy or Santa Clause - please realize this both children, young people, adults, and older adults:

There is life after death.

Our choices in this life determine our eternal destiny.

It is while we are still living that God, time and time again, knocks at our hearts. In order to not death, or be uncertain about what will happen to us when we die, for we will surely die, I ask you to consider this:

God sent his son to this world and he was crucified 2,000 years ago.

Jesus’ death on the cross was voluntary. He took our place, taking upon himself the punishment for our sin.

…so that we may believe in him, trust in him, acknowledge that we have sinned against a holy God and he has promised:

To forgive us of all our sins and take away the shame, for we all have done shameful deeds

To save us from eternal condemnation, and grant us eternal life: for heaven and hell exist, they are actual places, and those who reject God’s message will be lost for all eternity

The verse in the program you were handed today is God’s truth:

Lucas 15:4 NIV

“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?

Lucas 15:4 NBLA

«¿Qué hombre de ustedes, si tiene cien ovejas y una de ellas se pierde, no deja las noventa y nueve en el campo y va tras la que está perdida hasta que la halla?

It speaks about a shepherd who had 100 sheep.

There was this one sheep who left the fold.

However, the shepherd was not content with having the remaining 99.

The shepherd knew he must go and seek the sheep that was lost.

…this is our condition, we are lost without God, without direction, without purpose in life.

We make choices that hurt us and hurt those around us.

We make choices that offend God.

However, God seeks those lost sheep, and brings them back to him; just as a mother or maybe a father who day after day prays for their child.

They pray that their child’s heart would be softened.

They pray that their child would no longer turn their back against them and especially not turn their back against God.

I pray that if you’ve turned your back against your parents, but especially if you’ve turned your back against God - that your heart would be softened and that you would cry out to God.

Cry out to him and he will comfort you.

Cry out to him and he will soothe your pain.

Cry out to him and he will forgive you and take all the shame away.

Cry out to him so that when you die, you will have assurance of your eternal destiny.

God is faithful to his promises, he has promised to hear anyone who cries out to him with a sincere heart.

Let us sing: ¡Grande es tu Fidelidad / Great is Thy Faithfulness

Servicio en el Cementario

The word of God tells us:

Génesis 3:19 NIV

By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

Génesis 3:19 NBLA

»Con el sudor de tu rostro Comerás el pan Hasta que vuelvas a la tierra, Porque de ella fuiste tomado; Pues polvo eres, Y al polvo volverás».

We come once together once again, in this last opportunity, to give God thanks for the life of Jacklyn Padron. She was a young woman, created in God’s image.

She was a daughter

…a sister

…a cousin

…a grandchild

…and to many a friend.

We will continue to feel the pain of her absence. Oh how she will be missed.

I pray that each of us would continue to support the family, reach out to them, check in on them, so that this would not be just be momentary occurrence.

I also pray that as we’ve had the opportunity to consider the shortness of life, that each of us consider how we respond to God, oh that we would believe and truly receive eternal life.

Dear family, I leave you with these words:

Juan 14:27 NIV

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Juan 14:27 NBLA

»La paz les dejo, Mi paz les doy; no se la doy a ustedes como el mundo la da. No se turbe su corazón ni tenga miedo.