Funeral Sermon for Anne Whipple: "A Time to Live"

+ In Memoriam – Anne Whipple +

February 24^th, 1936 – May 5^th, 2016

Redeemer Lutheran, HB

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8; Romans 6:3-11; John 14:1-7

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

A time to be born, and a time to die;

A time to weep, and a time to laugh…

Solomon’s words ring true in our ears, especially today. There was a time to be born and a time to die for Anne. Just as there is a time to be born and a time to die for all of us.

And so we may think that today is only a time to mourn, but we would be wrong. To be sure, we grieve. After all, the wages of sin is death. Death is the last enemy. Like a decapitated snake, Death still has some venom in its fang that leaves a deadly sting. Even Jesus joins us in our grief. He wept at Lazarus’ tomb.

We live in a broken world, our families hurt and suffer, loved ones get sick and die, and we rightly mourn and weep, and maybe even get angry because of Death. We’re troubled that there is such a thing as a time die. For we know that it wasn’t always this way. Scripture teaches us that there was a time where there was no time to die, no time for mourning, no time for weeping…only life, joy, and peace with God.

And Scripture also teaches us that there will be a time when death, mourning, and weeping will be wiped out forever. For all who are baptized – as Anne was –in Jesus’ name, then we are united with Jesus in a death like his and, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. And if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. Anne died with Christ and now lives with Him. And so we do not grieve as others do without hope.

For Jesus destroyed the last enemy of Death for you, for Anne, and for all. For Jesus there was also a time to be born…for you, for Anne, and for all. For Jesus there was also a time to die, for you, for Anne, and for all. For Jesus there was a time to live, to rise from the dead, for you, for Anne, and for all.

As St. Paul declares: We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

As strange as it may sound, St. Paul reminds us that for Anne, the time to die happened long before May 4^th, 2016; she died in a baptismal font in Fremont, Nebraska on April 4^th, 1936. Anne died to sin as the pastor poured those hallowed waters over her head; she was crucified and buried with Christ by the water and word that washes away sin and clothes us with Christ. Which also means she was raised to new life. Baptism is her resurrection. Now Anne, and all who are baptized, are dead to sin and alive in Christ Jesus. And that so for Anne there is only a time to live.

For Anne, there is no more time to weep. There is only a time to laugh. To mock the grave. For it is empty of its power to hold us. Death has lost its sting because Jesus bore it for Anne, and for you. Each scar on his hands and feet, every thorn pierced wound on his head, and every pain he suffered was to suck sin’s venom from our flesh.

Yes, there is a time to mourn; but there is also a time to dance and leap for joy in Christ’s resurrection. For death has no dominion over Jesus, over Anne, or you.

Yes, there is a time to die; but there is also a time to rise; a time to be planted in the earth for a rest from our labors; and a time to be plucked up from our graves by our Lord Jesus Christ.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 

These words give us, as they did for Anne strength, comfort, and peace in life and death. We go where Jesus goes, through the grave to life in Jesus. This is why Anne took her confirmation vows seriously, earning the name “defender of the faith” from her husband, Scott for her confidence and boldness in confessing the faith given her at Baptism.

This is why she had, as family members describe it, the servant-gene. From lost dogs in her neighborhood to her patients in hospice care, she revealed compassion and care that can only come from God’s grace. As I looked in her church file – don’t worry, it’s not like the CIA, FBI, or IRS; our files are about receiving Jesus’ gifts, caring for others, and things like confirmation or baptismal records – I noticed a lot of letters thanking her for serving the congregation in countless ways. For Anne there was a time to serve and love others because Christ had first loved and served her by laying down his life.

In every stage of life, Jesus fulfills and fills these words with his own suffering, death, and resurrection for us.

For Jesus there was a time to be born and a time to die…for you.

For Jesus there was a time to be planted in the earth, and to be plucked up again three days later and rise from the dead…for you.

For Jesus there was a time to cast away the stone from his tomb; and one day, there will be a time where Jesus will cast away the stone from all of our tombs as well.

Therefore, let not your hearts be troubled; in Jesus there is only a time to live…for Anne and for you.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.