Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I had a look through my archives when I was sent the running order for this service because I was pretty sure I’d never before been asked to preach at a funeral where the Bible reading says to ‘rejoice’ twice in the first sentence.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines joy, or the act of rejoicing, as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”
It’s not the first emotion that comes to mind for a service marking someone’s death. And it struck me that only at a Christian funeral would that feel in any way appropriate.
To be sure, there is sadness here today. We mourn the fact that we will not see Pauline again in this life.
But it is an undeniable Christian truth that your joy can be real and irrepressible even when your soul is downcast and heavy.
The Bible says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. And so this reading from Philippians 4 telling us to rejoice is, in fact, as appropriate a sermon text for a Christian funeral as you’ll find anywhere in Scripture.
The reading tells us that the Lord is near. He really is. If you are not a believer here today, but you’re open, reach out to him. He is nearer than you think, and he’s been waiting for you a long time.
It reading mentions anxieties and needs right at the start. Such things easily cloud our lives at times like this but it says, ‘Give them to God. Tell him about what’s troubling you. Don’t get weighed down by worries and cares.
Thank God in every situation and ask him for what you need. And when you do that, you’ll experience a peace from heaven that fills your heart and settles your troubled mind.’
I remember two big sorrows in Pauline’s life; when her husband Andrew died, and more recently when her increased frailty meant having to leave her home just a few doors down the road from here.
Both were hard to accept. But I never saw Pauline feel sorry for herself or become overwhelmed by the gloom that coming to the end of life can bring.
Pauline had a cheerful, uncomplaining and saintly demeanour, she had the sweetest smile, and she was able to face death with no fear.
Those of you who are family members here today, I expect you have received many cards, letters and social media messages in last few weeks expressing condolences. My guess is that probably hardly any mention the word ‘death.’
Even the earliest Christians occasionally sidestepped using the “d” word, sometimes preferring the expression ‘falling asleep.’
I don’t think they were in denial. The word ‘death’ appears 150 times in the New Testament. Christians know that death is factual - but emphatically we don’t accept that it’s final.
For Christians, it really is quite like falling asleep. None of us can stay alive indefinitely. Or stay awake permanently. After sleep you wake up refreshed. And, after death, you are raised new again.
That’s how followers of Jesus see death. That’s how Pauline saw it. Not as a final misfortune but as a welcome rest before a new start.
Even 1,000 years before Christ, people complained, “Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.”
But the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which Christians everywhere will celebrate on Sunday week, changed everything.
It was the fuel that propelled a dozen or so quite unimpressive men to start the largest and most influential movement in world history, that is still expanding globally.
The Bible says that Christ being raised from the dead is like the first snowdrops and blossoms you must have noticed over these last few weeks.
The resurrection is like the first hints of springtime; Pauline’s favourite season. When you see the first dry twigs begin to bud, you know that everywhere will soon bloom into life. It is unstoppable.
And when you believe that Christ was raised, as Pauline did with unwavering conviction, your share in eternal life is secured.
Our reading concludes; “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.”
Think
of Pauline walking freely, without aches and pains, with no walking stick, with
that smile we all loved, but without a wrinkle on her face. Effortlessly nimble
again, and forever young.
Think of her joy. Think of her laughing with Andrew as carefree and optimistic as on their wedding day. Think of her excitement in seeing old friends again, those who ‘fell asleep’ before she did.
Think of her savouring and delighting in the glory and presence majesty of God. Drinking it all in.
If anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.
And when you do, then rejoice in the Lord who turns mourning into dancing. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Funeral Sermon for Pauline Taylor, All Saints' Preston on Tees, 30 March 2023
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