For John
Gospel, Homily, Prayers for the Funeral of John Joseph Benton, Jr. at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Panama City, Florida on Wednesday, March 9, 2016.
Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days. Amen.
Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve the with a quiet mind. Amen.
Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly care, that, casting all their grief on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love. Amen.
+++ +++ +++
Jesus said, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:1f KJV)
+++ +++ +++
O Lord, support us all the day long until the shadows lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in thy mercy grant us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.
John’s death was gentle, peace at the last. It was hardly even “death” as we think of it, but fading, softly, quietly passing on. From moment to moment and breath to breath, I could hardly tell he was gone until the nurse came in, checked, and turned off the monitor. We, or at least I was stunned that it all came down so quickly, easily, peacefully, as though prayer in action, peace at the last.
Every one of us could envy, covet, such an ending: loved ones gathered round, prayer and psalms quietly in the background, the Holy Spirit filling the room: Holiness present to take John home. A gentle, kind, loved man. A good life, a life well-lived, a safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last.
This was not what we had prayed and hoped for John, we wanted life for John, his life to go on among us. And yet, Time was a blessing, a bonus: we expected and feared this two and a half or three years ago; and if prayers are answered, and if love is uplifting, then we, loved ones, family and friends had John that much longer, and good years too. Let us be so very thankful this morning, for Time, as we bless the Lord for the Time of Life, and more Time than we feared.
Thankful too, for the promises of God. We are standing on the promises, the promises of Christ our King, the blessed assurance of our Lord Jesus Christ. In my Father’s house are μοναὶ πολλαί, Jesus says in John’s Greek gospel, mansions many, rooms many, dwelling places many — rearranging the syntax, many rooms, many mansions in my Father’s house.
Come - and go with me
to - my Father’s house
It’s a big, big house
with lots and lots of room
I have not been there except in dreams, nor have you, but we have God’s Word on it that John is there now, embraced in the love of God, in company with God’s saints and holy angels. And I love our theology of The Episcopal Church, expressed in one of the prayers that in a moment we will offer
“Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved,
that we may have strength to meet the days ahead
in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope,
in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those we love."
Just as we are the Church Militant Here on Earth, that prayer is what the Church Triumphant is all about:
that our Redeemer liveth,
that though this body be destroyed, yet shall we see God,
whom we shall see for ourselves,
and our eyes shall behold,
and not as a stranger.
And that — as Jesus comes again and takes us to himself that where He is, there we may be also —
— that as he shows us to our mansion in the Father’s house, waiting there for us will be the fulfillment of faith and hope: eternal life with those we love.
May it be so for John Benton - and for all who have died in the hope of the resurrection: in the hour of death, and in the day of judgment, for each of us in turn: a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.
In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.
Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection. Amen.
Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord: Grant, we beseech thee, to thy whole Church in paradise and on earth, thy light and thy peace. Amen.
Grant that all who have been baptized into Christ's death and resurrection may die to sin and rise to newness of life, and that through the grave and gate of death we may pass with him to our joyful resurrection. Amen.
Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and righteousness all our days. Amen.
Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may be cleansed from all our sins, and serve the with a quiet mind. Amen.
Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly care, that, casting all their grief on thee, they may know the consolation of thy love. Amen.
Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal life with those they love. Amen.
Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand, to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. Amen.
Grant us grace to entrust John to thy never-failing love; receive him into the arms of thy mercy, and remember him according to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people. Amen.
Grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.
Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in thy eternal and everlasting glory, and, with all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which thou dost promise to all who share in the victory of thy Son Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Homily: the Rev. Tom Weller
Prayers: Ann Benton Ruple (BCP 480)
Homily: the Rev. Tom Weller
Prayers: Ann Benton Ruple (BCP 480)