Rev. Reed Lee Pedersen's
A dear friend of mine recently passed away. He was only 65 years old but Parkinson’s disease had weakened his body and it finally gave into the rest of eternal slumber. This is extremely sad for me, because my friend, Peter, was the first person to get me to think critically about faith and the Bible. He taught me it was okay to laugh at the funny jokes comedians make about Christianity and the Bible without feeling like a heretic. As I grieve Peter’s loss I have come to realize that as we walk with others through the dying and death process we are reliving Holy Week each time. Maundy Thursday – Seeing them for the last time On Maundy Thursday we remember the Last Supper. This was the last meal Jesus had with his disciples. This was the last time he spent with all of them before he would be betrayed killed. When my wife and I were informed of Peter’s failing health we wanted to make sure to see him. The very next day we drove a few hours so that we could be there for Peter and his wife, Jette. Even though he was already on hospice and couldn’t really speak, it was a powerful meeting to see my friend one last time alive. Sometimes we get our Maundy Thursday moment and we know it. Other times, like the disciples, we only realize it was the Last Supper with that person in hindsight. Someone dies unexpectedly and you have to think back to the last time you were able to spend with them. I can tell you the disciples did not know this would be their last time with their beloved rabbi. Good Friday – Their body betrays them and they breathe their last breath On Good Friday we remember Judas betrayed Jesus. Jesus was handed over to the religious authorities. Jesus was then handed over and sentenced to death by the Roman authorities. Jesus hung from the cross and took his last breath. My wife got the news in a text. Peter had died. She shared that information with me. I felt like I got punched in the stomach. Perhaps, we, like the disciples who fled Jesus before he died, are unable to be there when that person dies. Whether for work, location, or family’s wishes you cannot be there. Someone has to share the news to you that someone has died. Maybe we are like the women who followed and watched all the way to Jesus taking his last breath. Either way, the life in this world is gone and we are only left with grief. Easter – We recognize and lift up the eternal life they have with the risen Lord at their funeral On Easter Sunday we remember the women who went to anoint their dead Messiah. They were welcomed with an empty tomb. Death and grief no longer filled their hearts because Jesus had risen. Their Savior had completed his act of conquering death and thus instituted our eternal life with God.
Peter’s memorial service will probably be a private affair. I am not sure if I will be able to be there to accompany his body and memory to God. God willing, I will hopefully be able to be part of it. Funerals are definitely sad. I am not trying to say that they aren’t, but in the funeral liturgy we do more than mourn our dead acquaintances. Interestingly enough, we gather at a funeral because of the deceased, but the whole worship service done within the Lutheran context is centered on the crucified and risen Jesus Christ. Why is this? It is through the eternal Jesus Christ that we are promised an eternal life with God. We lift up the deceased, but we also commend and commit them to God’s loving care. We make a bold proclamation during funerals following the words of Paul, “When you were buried with him in baptism, you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12) In conclusion, being with someone as they are dying is not easy. Grieving for those who have passed away is not easy. Luckily, as we relive Holy Week with them we can hold onto Jesus’ promise that they are forever with God and we will see them again. Points to Ponder:
1 Comment
Sally Rehn
4/17/2019 10:39:48 am
Thanks for sharing your story. So often we are denied a last visit (distance, sudden death, etc.) and that loss is hard to forget.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorPastor Reed is a first call pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. Archives
July 2019
|