Yesterday, I preached my fourth and final sermon in my preaching class. Everyone was given a scenario, and everyone had to preach a funeral sermon for a fictitious deceased person.
My scenario:
"The local funeral home has contacted you about doing a funeral service for Craig Lundeen, a 31-year-old man who died in a motorcycle accident. The police had determined that the cause was excessive speed. Craig was divorced, had one child who lived with Craig's mother, and was currently living with a woman and her three children. He was active in the local chapters of Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home."
The process of writing the sermon was quite frustrating, actually. I wanted to do well, I wanted to craft a good sermon, but this was all make-believe, and Craig was not a real person for me. However, I pushed through those feelings, and just did it. I am generally okay with the outcome, and I am very okay with being finished with preaching. If you'd like to check the sermon out, click on the link below.
Prayer for Illumination
God, it is really hard to hear right now, but by your Holy Spirit,
speak to us exactly what we need to hear, show us what we ought to do,
give us strength for the day, and give us hope to live faithfully in
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Friends, let us consider what God might have to say to us, even through the story of a blind man's encounter with Jesus Christ on the side of the road, many years ago.
Scripture
LUKE 18:35-43 :: The Message Paraphrase
He came to the outskirts of Jericho. A blind man was sitting beside the road asking for handouts. When he heard the rustle of the crowd, he asked what was going on. They told him, “Jesus the Nazarene is going by.”
He yelled, “Jesus, Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
Those ahead of Jesus told the man to shut up, but he only yelled all the louder, “Son of David! Mercy, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and ordered him to be brought over. When he had come near, Jesus asked, “What do you want from me?”
He said, “Master, I want to see again.”
Jesus said, “Go ahead – see again! Your faith has saved and healed you!” The healing was instant: He looked up, seeing – and then followed Jesus, glorifying God. Everyone in the street joined in, shouting praise to God.
SERMON:
Bad News in Text
Hello, my name is Josh, and I welcome you in the name of Jesus Christ, the one who offers peace, compassion and healing in life and in death, the same God who grieves with us in the death of our friend, son, brother, and father, Craig Thomas Lundeen.
Life was not what it was supposed to be for the blind man on the side of the road. His need was great: food, shelter, money, and most clearly, sight.
His blindness made life difficult. Difficult, yes, but not impossible. Surely this man had some sort of community – perhaps family, friends, men and women who shared his condition. He was not alone, just a man in need.
We heard in this text that when the man heard that Jesus was passing by, he recklessly shouted out to Jesus by name, trusting that Jesus could do something, anything for him.
We also heard that there were those along the road with the blind man who tried to discourage and defeat the man hoping in Jesus for healing and sight. Whether because they thought that the needy man was unworthy or that such broken people were unworthy to be in Christ’s presence, or simply because they wanted their time with Jesus, these men and women acted wrongly.
Life was not what it was supposed to be for the blind man on the side of that dusty road to Jericho.
Bad News in World
Last Thursday, Craig was making a drive he made every Thursday. He was on his way from his Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in Trenton back to his home here in Princeton.
As you are well aware, Craig died while riding his motorcycle on Quaker Bridge Road – a motorcycle which was a recent gift to himself to celebrate one full year of sobriety. It was a dark and wet night, and Craig was just going too fast.
In the past few days, I have had the pleasure of speaking with several of you, learning more about Craig. It is clear how much Craig is loved and missed.
You miss his deep belly laugh he would only laugh when his six-month old daughter Allie was around. You miss the fact that he would answer his phone at any hour, because he knew that you needed him, and that you would do the same for him. You miss his bear hugs that could say those things that words could not.
Life is and will be different without Craig, and we are wondering where God was last Thursday night, and just where Jesus was standing.
What I have learned of Craig is that life was not always easy, and that Craig would be the first to tell you that he was not perfect. Craig battled deep depression and wrestled with alcohol and narcotics since his early college years. And, those four years after college when Craig lost contact with family and friends here in Princeton were years of deep trouble for Craig and for you, the ones who loved Craig, and for Craig, the man who loved you, but who was searching for himself. As you learned later, it was during those years that Craig spent day to day on the street, in Trenton, in Atlanta, and finally in Baltimore.
After three long years, Craig had a wake up call two years ago when he found himself cold and alone, begging on the street in Baltimore, and he finally decided to make his way home. And, when he returned to his mom’s doorstep in Princeton, Craig knew he needed something different from this life, and that he could not continue living as he was. He needed something more.
Good News in Text
The blind man was sitting by the road, and when, once he heard Jesus was passing by, he passionately called out, twice, “Jesus! Son of David, Mercy, have mercy on me.” Jesus’ reputation proceeded him, and the blind man knew that Jesus could do something about his pain and his need.
When Jesus heard the two bold requests of the blind man, whom so many who could have helped, had been passing by, Jesus could have kept going, too. But he didn’t. Jesus was present. Jesus stood still, stopped cold in his tracks, and commanded the very people who had been trying to keep the blind man back, to carry the blind man into Jesus’ very presence. Jesus heard the cry of the man, wanted to be near the man, and to wanted to hear his concern face to face.
Jesus did just that, and spoke directly with the man, because the man was important to Jesus, not a problem, not a nuisance. Jesus simply but directly asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” or, “What do you want from me?”
The blind man, now within Jesus’ reach, could have asked for anything, but he said it plainly. “Master, I want to see again.”
His need was great, and his whole life would change, if only his vision could be restored.
Without hesitation, Jesus spoke to the man, “Go ahead – see again! Your faith has saved and healed you.”
Jesus, the one passing through town, was the only one who could restore the man, and he who had once lived in darkness was now flooded with light all he could do was follow Jesus, speaking of his transformed life.
This man who seemed to have so much going against him now had exactly what he wanted, an encounter with Jesus, and his sight restored. Life would be different.
Good News in World
From what you all have told me, Craig had some sort of encounter, similar to that of the blind man on the side of the road. He was in deep need, he saw a way out, cried for help, and his life was transformed. Craig was in the process being transformed. His own version of blindness was being transformed into sight.
When Craig returned to Princeton two years ago, he knew he needed to change, and upon the suggestion of his mother, Paula, he began to attend AA and NA on a weekly basis.
It was at these meetings that Craig found a community of men and women who were in the same boat, who knew what it meant to hit rock bottom. These people knew what it meant to humbly admit that they needed something bigger than themselves in order to find life once again. Craig, who had been a determined and persistent fighter as a child, became a determined and persistent fighter as an adult, when he realized his need. From his weakness came his great strength, and in giving surrendering his life, he found his life once again.
Friends, Jesus Christ knows all our hope, all our joy, and all our fullness of life. He also knows our deep pain, our darkest hours, our addiction, and our overwhelming loneliness. Jesus knew all these moments in Craig’s life, and Jesus knows them in our lives as well.
Jesus showed up for Craig in these past few years. Jesus showed up in the face of his mother who welcomed him home. Jesus showed up, in the face of his daughter, Allie, who brought him joy. Jesus showed up, in the love and support of his sponsors and friends at AA and NA. And Jesus showed up in the form of each person in this room, those of you who loved and challenged and supported Craig throughout his strength and in the midst of his weaknesses. The real, living, and active Jesus used each of you to restore Craig’s life.
You may ask, just as I do, “If Jesus showed up for Craig, and his life was being turned around, why in the hell did he die on his motorcycle? How does that make sense?” I don’t know why he died, and I don’t think it makes sense. What I do know is that God weeps with us. Death is not God’s plan. God is the God of life and hope and redemption.
There is hope, friends, not just for this life, but also after death. We are free to grieve, to cry, and to be angry – because we love Craig. Craig was not alone in this life, and he is not alone in death. The same Jesus, who lived and died for our sakes, so that we might live, is the Jesus who loves Craig, and is with him and for him.
Death is defeated and just as he stood near the blind man, the real, living Jesus stands near all of us, offering the life that is truly life, wholeness, and healing.
Prayer of Commendation
Holy God,
By your creative power you gave us life,
And in your redeeming love you have given us new life in Christ.
We commend Craig Thomas Lundeen to your loving care
In the faith of Christ the Lord
Who died and rose again to save us,
And who now lives and reigns with you and with the Holy Spirit,
One God, now and forever.
Amen.
I think you did a fine job, Josh... it's got to be REALLY hard to find the words to comfort a bunch of strangers mourning the death of someone else who is a stranger to you...
Probably easier when it feels real to you, also. All I know is, I wouldn't be a lick of good at it. ;)
Posted by: songstress7 | April 12, 2006 at 10:59 AM