Preaching Text: Acts 9: 36-42
I met with Jim and Jason on Thursday to discuss Joan and her life. And since I arrived here about an hour ago, I've heard even more stories. Stories of her sense of humor and, of course, a picture tells a thousand words and there are many of those gathered here as well. Pictures of vacations, birthdays, weddings, and other family events.
I have to admit thought I could have lived without seeing Jim's audition photo for the 1970s comedy "Chico and the Man." Rocking that "Disco 'do" as he was. Still, Joan would have liked a bit of playful teasing. She would have liked a bit of laughter in this midst of this moment, because that's who she was.
But the stories that have stood out the most are those of her kindness and compassion, stories of how she’d make food for people in need, of how she’d do anything for anyone who needed help. As those stories are told, we've discovered new ones; of a time when she paid the down payment on a house for a couple in need, a story unknown to her family until just a few minutes ago.
People express their faith in different ways. Each one of us here has our own personal theology and practice when it comes to what we believe. So too with Joan. She was not, as Jim reminded me, much of a church-goer. But her faith was clearly very important to her. Her church was charity. Her worship was compassion and generosity to others. Her prayer was service to people in need.
Honestly, the kingdom of God could use more people like her. Folks who put their money where their mouth is. People who DO the work of God. I know I am blessed as a pastor to have Jim and Amy among my flock, folks who are clearly carrying on Joan has taught them.
But as I was listening I realized that Joan was of a type hardly unique in the life of the greater Church. She reminded me very much of Dorcas, whose story from the book of Acts I just shared with you.
Here again, many centuries ago, was a woman in much the same mold as Joan. Self-sacrificing, kind, generous, a “sweetie” to the many widows in the city of Joppa. Dorcas’s talent was in sewing, so she made clothing for those in need. But then, rather suddenly, she took ill and died. Hearing that St. Peter was in a neighboring town, they sent for him. Peter traveled the distance between the towns and came to where Dorcas was laying. There, he laid his hands on her and commanded her to rise. And she did.
John the Evangelist, who wrote the fourth Gospel, calls all of Jesus’ miracles “signs.” He uses that word very intentionally, as he sees the miraculous as something that points to the truth of God’s kingdom, in much the same way a road sign will point a traveler towards a particular destination. You want to see what God’s kingdom is like? Look to the signs.
And while this is a miracle of Peter’s rather than Jesus, I think it still proves true. This is a sign of the kingdom and it is a sign for us here gathered today.
You see Jesus came to this Earth to show us a kingdom of God where life rules, where kindness is the order of the day, where sorrow and pain no longer exist. He came and he told his followers to tell and to SHOW others what that kingdom looked like. That’s what Peter did with his miracle, but it’s also what Dorcas did with her charity. AND it’s clearly what Joan did throughout her life.
ALL of them knew that God’s kingdom is our hope. Peter’s miracle is proof of that. He brought back from the dead someone we might think was gone forever. That’s the kingdom. That’s what Jesus came to do. And on the cross and through the empty tomb, he won that kingdom for us.
Joan has received her reward. She has entered into the fullness of the kingdom she proclaimed with every kindness and act of charity of her life. This is God’s gift to her. And God’s gift to us is the same thing. We too are given this kingdom, this place of kindness, peace, harmony, where death and sin and sorrow are no more. A place of joy and celebration.
So, in this moment here and now, I know many are full of sorrow. Joan will be deeply missed. But her life was a sign of things to come, a world beyond ours where all of God’s promises will be fulfilled. Be like Joan. Trust in those promises. Share those promises. And hope for a better tomorrow. Amen.
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