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+ + + In Nomine Jesu + + +
Dear Martha, Gwen, Nancy, Dana, Lucille and Dee, George B. and Jeannette, and other gathered family of our beloved George A.,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
When we planned today’s short service, if I am not mistaken there was some emphasis on the word “short”. Usually there is no sermon at a Committal Service, as the Committal itself generally follows a longer funeral service at the Church with such a message. In George’s case, a Memorial Service at the Church is to be held at a future date, and so I want to take a few minutes to speak to you here and now. Even this message together with the future one may seem inadequate to address the long and full life of the man whose mortal remains are before us: brother, husband, father, grand-father, great-grandfather; merchant marine; Mobil Oil roustabout, lease operator, measurement supervisor, production foreman, and training supervisor; Lutheran Christian, trustee, Sunday School teacher and Bible Class leader, officer, elder, and Certified Pastoral Assistant—just to name a few but maybe enough to justify anyone’s perception that George was forever at church.
During one of George’s hospital stays in the past few months, he and I reflected on Psalm 23, which we read together moments ago, and so I had considered speaking to you this morning in view of that psalm, and, independent of that, the family suggested it to me, so it seemed the right choice. Psalm 23 is a much loved and familiar psalm, especially for the shepherd‑sheep figure of speech that essentially occupies its first half. The psalm may originate from a festival of praise held at the Temple after the Lord delivered King David from his son Absalom’s rebellion. Regardless, Psalm 23’s song of deliverance is relevant for us today, for as in the psalm, one who confessed the Lord to be his shepherd has been delivered.
The Lord as Shepherd leads in the paths of righteousness, but, on his or her own, no one follows that leading. As much as we may have loved George, no doubt we also knew George’s imperfections, his shortcomings and failings. God certainly knew them, and He knows ours, too. By nature, we are hostile to God, and we sin in countless ways. The divinely‑inspired prophet Isaiah describes us this way, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6). The death we see before us is what, on account of his sin, George deserved, and the death we see before us is what, on account of our sin, you and I also deserve.
But, the Lord has no pleasure in the death of sinners but that we turn from our wicked ways and live (Ezekiel 33:11). He seeks us out, calling us to repent—to turn in sorrow from our sin, to trust Him to forgive our sin for Jesus’s sake, and to want to do better than to keep on sinning. When we so repent, then He forgives our sin: our sinful natures and whatever our sin might be. The Lord our Shepherd rejoices that He has found His lost sheep, and with Him there is joy in heaven over even one sinner who so repents (Luke 15:1-8).
You see, the Lord is not just our “Shepherd”, but the Lord in the person of the God-man Jesus Christ is our “Good Shepherd” (John 10:11). Not only is Jesus our “Good Shepherd” in contrast to every “bad shepherd” there ever was or ever will be, but Jesus is our “Good Shepherd” in that He of His own accord lays down His life for the sheep and then takes it back up again (John 10:15, 18). With His death on the cross and His resurrection from the grave, Jesus won for everyone eternal life. The Lord our Good Shepherd knows His sheep, and His sheep know Him, they follow His voice, and He gives them eternal life, and they shall never perish eternally, neither shall anyone pluck them out of His hand (John 10:14, 27-28).
The Lord our Good Shepherd knew His sheep named George Andrew. If not before, George came to know Him on May 13, 1928, when, through an under‑shepherd, the Lord baptized George in Wharton, Texas. Some fourteen years later George affirmed his knowing the Lord our Good Shepherd with his confirmation at St. John Lutheran Church, in Corpus Christi, Texas. For more than 86 years the Lord our Good Shepherd made George to lie down in green pastures, to drink from still waters, and so restored his soul. Like a king bringing a vassal under His protection, the Lord our Good Shepherd prepared a table before George, and in the Sacrament of the Altar gave him all good things, satisfied His every need, with bread that is Jesus’s body and wine that is Jesus’s blood, giving George the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. Even as George recently walked through the valley of the shadow of death, the Lord our Good Shepherd was with George, and His rod and His staff comforted him. George knew the Lord our Good Shepherd’s goodness and mercy would follow him all the days of his life and that he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
For nearly half of George and Gwen’s married life they lived in the house they built at 16-0-3 County Road 1-87-D. But some changes were inevitable as more seem to be now. For a time George’s mortal remains will rest here, but his soul is already in the house of the Lord forever. On the Last Day, George’s mortal remains will be raised in incorruption, glory, and power (1 Corinthians 15:42-43). Then, his reunited body and soul together will be in the house of the Lord forever. He will be in the presence of God, with all those believers who have gone before him, and with all those believers who will come after him—in the house of the Lord forever. Would you not like to be a part of that blessed reunion then? Do you not need that reunion’s surety and certainty for comfort now?
A redeemed sinner, the Holy Spirit brought forth from George the fruits of faith. Such fruits of faith included his confession of faith in the form of his church membership, regular attendance in Bible study and worship and reception of the Sacrament of the Altar. Such fruits of faith included his service to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Corpus Christi and our Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Kilgore. Such fruits of faith included his love and service to his wife, children, grand-children and great‑grandchildren. And, such fruits of faith included his service to his employers and communities. I know I will miss his love and wise counsel that he shared with me, often weekly in my study, while passing time on Gwen’s hair day. George’s daughters yesterday shared with me ways that their father had profoundly influenced them. You all will miss the love and influence he shared with you —in unique times, places, and ways.
Yet, if I knew George’s heart at all (and I think I did at least a little), he might say that the greatest service he could be of to any of you (and to any one else) would be to love and influence you (and them) in such a way that you (and they) would be in the house of the Lord now, so that you could be with him in the house of the Lord forever. God grant you both such faith with its fruits of comfort, peace, and joy here and now and the resulting blessed reunion in the house of the Lord forever.
Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
+ + + Soli Deo Gloria + + +