Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see
death.’ The Jews said to him, ‘Now we
know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say,
“Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.” Are you greater than our father
Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?’ Jesus answered, ‘If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is
my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, “He is our God”, though you do not know him. But I know him; if I were to say
that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I
keep his word. Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced
that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.’ Then the Jews said to him, ‘You are not yet fifty years old, and
have you seen Abraham?’* Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was,
I am.’ So they picked up stones to
throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple. – John 8:51-59
I always think of John as the most difficult gospel to understand.
It seems like he uses a more mystical way of saying something instead of just
coming out and saying it in plain language. Of course, that's my thinking.
There are people who have no difficulty with John. I will admit
that there are parts of John that I love hearing, especially the first few
verses of the first chapter of the gospel. But when John tells a story he does
not tell the story so much as he gives a dialogue of what was said. The gospel
reading for the Eucharist kind of goes in that pattern, and I have to say, the
first sentence rather brings me up short, especially today.
"Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see
death." It sounds very simple, whoever keeps God’s word will never see
death. But then the reality sinks in -- everyone dies. Some never draw a breath
of air while others live to 100 and beyond. Yet they all die. No matter how
good they were, there is always an end.
This week I got news that a very, very dear friend of mine had
died last weekend. Margaret was 97 years old, and had had a long, full life,
despite advancing age and health challenges. I have known her ever since I can
remember. I knew her from church, and I got closer to her when we both sang in
the choir. I drove her crazy because as she tried to sing the alto, I would be
singing whatever part I did not hear well enough to balance the sound. She
helped me make a formal for my senior prom, and she taught me to cook some lovely
food that our home economics class never did. I do not think Jesus would never have
passed over someone who really needed a chair repaired or hugging a child who
really needed it.
I spent many happy hours at her house, especially after the death
of my adoptive mother, and, in a way, took over as a combination big sister,
foster parent, and best friend. She and her husband had a daughter of their
own, but there is always room for me to sleep on their couch all weekend and be
part of their family, which I loved. She was also a big help to my adoptive
father, struggling to make a living and trying to understand the mysteries of a
teenage girl that puzzled and quite often frustrated him. Margaret took care of
that for both of us.
Over the years, we grew a little apart, mostly caused by distance,
but whenever we talked on the phone, within a minute or two it was like we had
never been separated. We had some along conversations, and those conversations
were about exchanging information, but more than that, it was about building a
bridge. That bridge was something I counted on, no matter what was going on in
my often-chaotic life.
Margaret was a firm believer in Jesus, and very conscious of the
things Jesus taught. During her lifetime, she helped people and she tried to
live her life, so the glory was reflected to God. She was a child of God, in
every sense of the word, and just looking at her smile, which was radiant, it
was like seeing God smile. She died last Sunday, and the world is a poor place
because of her absence.
I go back to John and consider the part about the people who keep
God's word will never see death. Margaret was fervent in prayer, constant in
reading the Bible, faithful in attendance at Sunday school and church, and a
practitioner of what she heard and understood from the Bible. And yet she died.
It's hard to reconcile Jesus's words with the reality of life, especially a
life as exemplary as hers.
During this epiphany season I've been looking for insights, ways
of looking at things through different lenses than I usually do, and seeking to
view things from a different point of view. Sometimes it's very simple, but
sometimes it is almost impossible. In thinking about Margaret's life and death,
I think the insight that I got from her was that she did not look for praise or
wealth, or even pats on the back. She lived her life and did her ministries
with enthusiasm and great love, not only in the church, but in the greater
world. The insight comes when I think of all the time and love that she gave me
when I was growing up and beyond. She did her best to live up to all the things
that Jesus required, but she never spoke of it; her actions showed it. She gave
to charity, she supported the church, she performed her ministries to the best
of her abilities, and she was a dear friend to so many people. I have a feeling
that the Baptist church at home today will be full of people who loved her and
whom she loved, gathered as a community to remember her and to give thanks for
her life and witness.
So, in all, I guess the insight is that there is joy and value in
living the Christian life, one that accepts people as they are, one who helps
those in need, one who puts the love of God above all. Margaret has given me a
prime example of what that means. And although she has now seen death, I know
she did not fear it, but rather saw God’s open arms waiting to embrace her.
That would be her greatest reward.
Rest in peace, Margaret, and most assuredly you will rise in
glory. I will miss you, and will love
you for all that you meant to me.
Until we meet again,
God bless.
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