Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introductory Readings
We are here to celebrate the life and observe the passing of Edwina V. Scott, whom some of you knew as Scotty.
We begin this morning with a reminder of Jesus’ promise of life seen in both the New Testament Gospel of John and the Old Testament Poem of Job.
Speaking to His friend Martha after the death of her brother, Jesus asked a poignant question.
This same question had been asked and answered millennia earlier by Job.
Somewhere deep in the recesses of each of our souls is an awareness that we were created by God to enjoy fellowship with God.
As we develop that awareness it becomes the yearning that Job, and so many others before and since, experienced.
Let us go to Him now in prayer.
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have place eternity in our hearts in such a way that death, though common, is still not natural.
It is an event that rends the very fabric of our existence and the lives of those we have touched making every death a tragedy and every life too brief.
As we gather to observe such an unnatural thing, we ask that you would join with us.
Gather us under Your wing.
Send Your Holy Spirit to be our Comforter.
Walk with us through this valley as we say goodbye to one who has left while endeavoring to strengthen those who remain.
Thank You for Your presence.
Amen.
Old Testament Readings
In times of grief, we frequently turn our attention to the Psalms for the clarity and comfort found in their verses.
I am told that Edwina had a fondness for the 23rd Psalm.
Feel free to recite it along with me if you are comfortable doing so.
Decidedly less well known, but equally evocative is the 46th Psalm in which the psalmist confronts great upheaval.
Selah means slow down and contemplate.
Slow down and contemplate.
Slow down and contemplate.
It is in the times of our discomfort that we may experience God’s comfort.
New Testament Reading
The Apostle Paul, as he was writing to the church at Corinth, highlighted the foundational truth of Jesus’ resurrection relative to our hope in Him.
It is a hard truth, but truth none the less.
If our faith doesn’t see us past the shores of this life, than it is insufficient.
The Apostle did not stop there, he continued to say:
Death is an experience that is common to us all, but resurrection certainly is not!
The Apostle anticipated some push-back and so he continued.
It is a lot to wrap our head around, but in times of grief, it reminds us that this life is not all there is.
Euologies
Speaking of this life, I did not have the privilege of knowing Edwina, so I am grateful that a few family members would like to share their thoughts and experiences.
Reading of Bonnie’s Remarks by Jill
Family prayer Anastasia
Funeral Message
Introduction
I may be stepping out on a limb here, but someone who is described as “rich in kindness, love, and empathy” seems like the kind of person who could look at life’s clouds and see their silver linings.
For those with enough perspective, life’s challenges present their own opportunities.
In the Gospel of Matthew, we find the text of Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” in chapters 5-7.
He introduced this sermon with the so-called Beatitudes which we could understand as better attitudes for living a better life.
These attitudes that Jesus wants us to cultivate are as contrary to our expectation and experience as everything that follows in the rest of the sermon.
Transition
One of those thoughts that tends to hit us a bit sideways meets us in moments of grief.
Illumination
Sideways on the Surface
Even at first glance, this thought strikes us as odd.
Gathered here today, mourning the death of someone we knew and loved, we do not feel like we are experiencing a blessing.
As sideways as that strikes us, it gets a little a little stranger when we dig below the surface.
Stranger Below the Surface
I’m a big fan of defining words.
I find it useful for ensuring and increasing my understanding of even basic ideas.
I’d like to quickly review a few words from this verse.
Blessed
The word blessed here carries the idea of being enlarged, literally expanded and growing as a person, hence blessed or benefitted; it also denotes, ultimately, happiness.
Mourn
The meaning of blessed strikes us sideways and makes us question if Jesus was talking about the same thing we are when we use the word mourn.
It turns out that the word for mourn used here means to lament, grieve, or mourn, especially for the dead.
Mourn means pretty much what we expect it to, it just doesn’t seem to harmonize well with the idea of blessed.
Comforted
There is one more word to look at here: comforted.
The word carries the idea of calling to one’s side.
It’s a bit foreign to us, but think of it this way: our grief calls others to our side and their arrival at our side is a source of strength, companionship, and encouragement.
More specifically, in the context of Jesus’ words here and in other places, it is God the Holy Spirit who comes to our side as our Comforter.
Conclusion
The promise of comfort reconciles the discord between blessing and mourning.
In our mourning, we are enlarged and enriched by God’s presence and comfort.
In a very real sense, it is in our discomfort that we may experience God’s comfort.
And that is a blessing; the proverbial silver lining in the clouds of grief that linger above us.
The only remaining question to answer is, to whom is Jesus speaking?
The Apostle Matthew, who recorded the Sermon on the Mount answers that question in the very first verse of chapter 5.
The promise of blessing and comfort was given to those who were, and those who are, Jesus’ followers; those who come to Him of their own choosing.
If you receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the promise is to you.
Those who reject Jesus and Savior and Lord would not welcome His promise and He would never force His presence upon them.
Invitation
Earlier, we heard the Psalmist use the term selah: pause and consider.
I would invite you to join me in a moment of silence and prayer to consider the blessing of God’s presence and comfort in this time of our grief.
After a moment, I will conclude our time with a prayer.
Pause for a 30 count of silence.
Closing Prayer
Dear Lord of us all, we give you thanks for the life of the one you have taken from us, for what she has meant to her family and friends.
We give you thanks for your love toward us and for the salvation that you freely offer us through the death of Your own Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ.
We give you thanks for the help that is ours, the hope that is for all who have accepted your salvation, our Comforter, our constant Companion, your Holy Spirit.
We give you thanks for the love that You continue to shine upon us who sit so long in darkness and in the shadow of death.
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