Third Sunday after Trinity, Funeral Homily, St. John Baptist's (24 June) - 2026

 

The Third Sunday after Trinity.

Psalm 119.33-48

v. Legem pone.

TEACH me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes, * and I shall keep it unto the end.

34 Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; * yea, I shall keep it with my whole heart.

35 Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; * for therein is my desire.

36 Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, * and not to covetousness.

37 O turn away mine eyes, lest they behold vanity; * and quicken thou me in thy way.

38 O stablish thy word in thy servant, * that I may fear thee.

39 Take away the rebuke that I am afraid of; * for thy judgments are good.

40 Behold, my delight is in thy commandments; * O quicken me in thy righteousness.

vi. Et veniat super me.

LET thy loving mercy come also unto me, O Lord, * even thy salvation, according unto thy word.

42 So shall I make answer unto my blasphemers; * for my trust is in thy word.

43 O take not the word of thy truth utterly out of my mouth; * for my hope is in thy judgments.

44 So shall I alway keep thy law; * yea, for ever and ever.

45 And I will walk at liberty; * for I seek thy commandments.

46 I will speak of thy testimonies also, even before kings, * and will not be ashamed.

47 And my delight shall be in thy commandments, * which I have loved.

48 My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; * and my study shall be in thy statutes.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son * and to the Holy Ghost;

As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be * world without end. Amen. 

The Collect.

O LORD, we beseech thee mercifully to hear us; and grant that we, to whom though hast given an hearty desire to pray, may be comforted in all dangers and adversities; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31:1-14

Psalter: Psalm 16, 17 | 18

Epistle Reading: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Gospel Reading: St. Luke 15:1-10 

Homily

 

This last week I buried a believer who was also a long-time disabled Veteran. Here is my homily from the Graveside: 

To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

Phil. 1:19-21

Education Specialist William Kilpatrick, in his book, Why Johnny Can’t Tell Right from Wrong, says that “without the sense that life makes sense, all other motives for virtuous behavior lose their force.”  Clearly people have lost their way. Life seems to have become increasingly senseless, and many drift along through life, anchorless and without any “Moral Compass.” Many have lost their passion. Specifically, fervor for the lasting; hunger for the substantive. Now, an overwhelming number of people are ardent toward “ME.” But the more “ME” there is, the less of life there is to live; the less there is that is significantly vital, and eternal. The more “ME”, then the more hollow we are. But Paul presents another way that turns things right-side-up.

Paul has confidence, “I know…” (1:19). But a confidence regarding what? “that this will turn out to my deliverance.” What kind of deliverance is this? It’s not simply a release from prison and confinement, but a deliverance from the fleeting and fading away. As he goes on to say, “as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed” (1:20a). No shame! And further, “but that with full courage”. This is driven language; convinced talk. ‘I will suffer no shame and will press on in my purpose with courage!’ But what was Paul’s shamelessly courageous endpoint?

In life or death, Christ may be magnified; “now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death” (20b). Paul’s situation was precarious, in prison like he was, holed up and shoved down in a hole, stuck behind solid walls and locked doors, no longer able to accomplish anything the world thought was valuable. But instead of feeling victimized and vandalized, his passion gave him direction and purpose. That Christ would be magnified in his body. “No matter what happens to me bodily, my aim is for Christ to be revealed and exalted.”  This is the man who had come to the end of holding dear all of the fleeting aspects of a fading life: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21). This is Paul’s whole mindset. This is what focused him and centered him during all that would happen and had happened to him. In all of his debilitations and restrictions, Paul’s singular passion was Christ and Christ alone, no matter whether he lived, suffered or died, and this drove everything. This whole frame of mind gave drive to Paul’s whole existence. That in Jesus Christ, the Victor over death and hell; in Jesus Christ, who turned sin and pride on its head, here Paul had an ultimate direction of hope. An orientation that gave him focus and perspective in a mad world that was increasing in madness.  But also focus and perspective with a failing body and confining circumstances.

And this was the framework Paul wanted for the church to work and live from. “To live is Christ; To die is Gain”. This gives heart and soul, meaning and purpose to all that you are and do. It’s not, “For me to live is my job; …my wealth, …my family, …my IRA, …my fame; …and to die is regret!” No, it’s “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. It gives us scope and sequence, vision and vitality, invigoration and endurance in a maddening world; in seasons of physical misery and confinement; at times of economic distress and duress; in situations where our bodies and dreams come crumbling down into a rumpled heap; in the face of disease, dismay, disenchantment, and our last enemy, death! “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”.

In many ways, this passion and endpoint of the Apostle’s is what I will remember Greg for the most… A Christian beaming quiet joy and faith. A man who faced his mortality with hope. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Saint John Baptist’s Day (June 24) 

The Collect

Almighty God, by whose providence thy servant John Baptist was wonderfully born, and sent to prepare the way of they Son our Saviour, by preaching of repentance: Make us so to follow his doctrine and holy life, that we may truly repent according to his preaching, and after his example constantly speak the truth, boldly rebuke vice, and patiently suffer for the truth’s sake; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Old Testament Reading (For the Epistle): Isaiah 40:1-11

Gospel Reading: Luke 1:57-80 

Homily