Scripture texts: Job 19:23-27, Isaiah 40:28-31, John 11:25-26, 32-44
Well, here we are again.
I can imagine what you’re thinking, because it’s probably the same as what I’m thinking. This isn’t right. This can’t be happening. It was just 5 months ago that we were all gathered here to say good-bye to Millie, Suzy’s mother, who also died of cancer. Cancer that came on so sudden and so quickly. We’re all taught as children that life isn’t fair, but why does it have to hurt so much?
Suzy was one of the first people to invite me into her home to visit after I was called as the pastor here three years ago. At that time, it was Jim, her husband, who was on borrowed time from cancer. (This story is becoming nauseatingly familiar.) But as I got to know Suzy, I came to realize what a gem she really was.
Sometimes, it is very easy to become cynical as a pastor. We preach and preach and we wonder if ever make a difference, if anyone is ever listening to us up here. Suzy was one of those who proved that, yeah, people do. She got it. All of it. The Gospel, the call to love one another, to live life caring for others. That’s who she was. That’s what she did. I couldn’t go three sentences into a conversation with her before she was wondering how I was doing and what she could pray for in my life. She was an amazing human being, one of the kindest, most compassionate, most generous people I’ve ever met. She was among the best of us.
There is a scene in the sixth chapter of Revelation where the souls of the suffering cry out to God, “How long, O Lord?” In many ways, that’s my prayer today. “How long, O Lord, must we sit by and watch as the best of us are taken from us? How long must we put up with losing the ones we love? How long?” It’s a prayer of anger and frustration, because that’s how I feel right now. And I know I’m not alone.
Suzy’s death has stirred all sorts of emotions in all of us. We’re shocked, stunned, angry, hurt, confused, and just about everything else. Our feelings are raw and real right now. None of this is right and we don’t quite know how to feel or how to respond. We’re flailing about in the dark in many ways. Lost in our grief.
So what are we to do now?
Suzy herself may give us the answer. As a tireless proclaimer of the Gospel, both in word and deed, the Scriptures that she loved give us guidance in this time. The words of Job “I know that my Redeemer lives.” Suzy never questioned that. She never doubted it. In my conversations with her in these last weeks, she expressed time and again that no matter what happened, she was safe in God’s hands. As are we.
The words of the prophet Isaiah, from that beloved chapter 40 which we will soon be quoting frequently as we enter into the time of Advent before Christmas. “Comfort, O comfort, my people” because “those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles.” A passage that was the origin of a hymn beloved of one who was very influential in Suzy’s life, her mother. But those words call to us today, counseling patience in the midst of our sorrow and confusion. God is at work even now, even in this moment of tragedy.
And what is that work? The Gospel of John speaks to that in a powerful way. Jesus’ friend Lazarus has died. He comes to his grave, surrounded by the heartbroken members of Lazarus’ family and he is heartbroken himself. He weeps. He is moved in spirit. He is hurting. He is hurting because one that he loves has died. But he is not just a mere mortal; he is the Son of God. And with a mighty word he commands Lazarus to come forth from his grave.
John calls Jesus’ miracles “signs” in Gospel telling because they point to greater realities and truths. The raising of Lazarus is the most powerful of those signs because this is what Jesus came to do. He came to conquer death and to bring life to his people. Though his life, death, and resurrection, that is what he did. That was his answer to what we see before us today.
Suzy believed that with ever fiber of her being. She trusted those promises that God gave to her in her baptism. And if she was here now and if she could speak to us from other side of the veil, I have no doubt that these are the tales she would tell. She would call us all to remember what Christ has done, not only for her but for all of us.
I said a few moments ago that I’m angry about this. I’m angry because it’s not fair that Suzy was taken from us. I know some of you feel the same. But we’re not alone in that. God’s angry too. When we say this isn’t right, God agrees with us. That’s why Jesus came. That’s what the whole story of God’s plan for the world is about; putting this right. It’s why the promise was given to Abraham. It’s why Jesus came. It’s why he died on the cross. It’s why he rose again on the third day. The covenants, both old and new, were God’s answer to what we see before us.
“How long, O Lord?” Well, it’s not yet. But it will be. Suzy lived her whole life believing that, knowing that God would one day put right what is wrong in this world. She gave us an example to follow. Trusting in the word of the one who will bring life from death, just as he did for his Son. Amen.
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