John 10:11-16; 1 John 3:1-2; Isaiah 43:1-3a, 25
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” I suggest to you that Richard believed those words and lived his life in accordance with those words. And that is precisely why we are here today – to remember, to celebrate, and to give thanks and praise to God for Richard’s faith and life. What do I mean? Well, it is clear that Emil and Louisa Marie, Richard’s parents, believed and lived those words as well, for they saw to it that Richard was baptized, instructed in the faith, and that he was confirmed in the faith so many years ago. And because of this loving work of his faithful parents, who did what Christian parents are called to do, Richard became the Christian man, husband, and father that he was, and he and Darla fulfilled their Christian vocations as parents and saw to it that their children, Lori, Darci, and Traci were also baptized, instructed in the faith, and were confirmed in the faith. And you, in turn, have your own children and even grandchildren. And so it is that we have three, four, even five generations of Christians, each training up their children in the way they should go, with the hope that they will not depart from it, as Christians are all called to do.
The LORD called Richard by name in Holy Baptism. The LORD shepherded His dear sheep Richard throughout his life here in the valley of the shadow of death. And now the LORD has called his faithful sheep Richard home where His sheep may safely graze. Truly, Richard’s life was bookended by the grace, love, mercy, and forgiveness of the LORD, and Richard’s life was sustained and continues even now through the same. In his life, Richard was already God’s child through holy baptism and faith, and what he will be has not yet appeared, but we know that when Jesus appears in glory on the Last Day, we will see Him, and all who have gone before us in the faith, face to face. Therefore, we do not grieve as others do, asthose who have no hope, but we grieve in the hope of the resurrection on the Last Day when we will see our Lord and those we love with our own eyes, hear them with our own ears, and hug them with our own arms once again. And our Lord Jesus promises, no one will take our joy from us ever again.
Richard was a bit of a homebody. He loved the outdoors – hunting, fishing, gardening – but he liked to do this with his family, his daughters, and not so much with a large group of people. He was a family man, and with his family, in their family home, doing family things, that’s where he loved to be. That is where and how he showed his love, the love of Christ in him: Taking care of sister Carol while their parents worked on the farm. Taking his daughters fishing. Twiddling Darla’s ear each morning. In these quiet, simple, unassuming ways Richard showed his love. Sister Carol loved her brother and depended upon him so much that, when Richard and Darla got married, she was afraid she was going to lose her brother forever. She didn’t lose her brother, of course, but rather she gained a sister. A story that would always get a laugh out of Richard was remembering Nate’s baptism. The pastor had explained about the water and what would happen when he was baptized and Nate asked the pastor, “Do I need to put my swim trunks on?” Home. Family. Faith. Love. That is what Richard loved most.
“We are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” No Nate, you don’t need your swim trunks in order to be baptized, but baptism and faith are what make us children of God. We are baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection. That means that Jesus’ death is our death, it counts for us, and Jesus’ resurrection is our resurrection, it counts for us also. And because Jesus is raised from the dead we believe that we too will be raised. Even so we have already been raised in spirit to that new life that will never die. That is why St. John says that we are God’s children now. In this life, lived here in this valley of the shadow of death, we are already God’s children. And when we pass out of this valley, as Richard has done, we know that we will be with Jesus, just as He promised that repentant man who was crucified with Him, “This day you will be with me in paradise.” All of the qualities and gifts of Richard that you remember, only a few of which we have actually mentioned this day, are fruits of that new life he lived in Jesus as God’s own child through baptism and faith.
Our Good Shepherd Jesus knows His sheep. He knows each one by name and He calls them and they follow Him. Our Good Shepherd Jesus called Richard, and Richard followed Him. And through Richard, Jesus has called you too, so there will be one flock, one shepherd. Jesus is our Good Shepherd because He laid down His life for His sheep. He did not flee when the wolf threatened, but He threw Himself into the wolf’s jaws and broke the beast’s teeth so that he can harm us no longer. Jesus had authority to lay down His life, and Jesus had authority to take it up again. Death is defeated. Jesus lives. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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