Funeral for T Phyllis Diemer T
Revelation 21:1-7
20 May, 2011
Emmanuel Lutheran Church—Dwight, IL
In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The thing that struck me when I first met Jake and Phyllis was how easy a conversation was with them. I remember sitting in a hospital room with the two of them as one of my first pastoral calls. I don’t exactly remember what we talked about, but I remember it to be very delightful conversation.
Somewhere during one of those conversations, I also learned another very striking fact—they were approaching 70 years of marriage! Nowadays, you’re lucky to hear of marriages lasting 7 years, much less 70.
Thirty-five years after making her marriage vow to Jake in 1940, Phyllis made another vow, this time in the Rite of Confirmation here at Emmanuel. After learning the Small Catechism, Phyllis confessed her faith with these words: “Finally, do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the rule of the divine Word, to be diligent in the use of the means of grace, to walk as it becometh the Gospel of Christ, and in faith, word, and deed to remain true to the Truine God, even unto death? I do so intend by the grace of God” (The Lutheran Agenda).
Phyllis was confirmed on November 23, 1975, which also happened to be the last Sunday of the Church Year that year. The appointed verse for that day is taken from today’s reading from Revelation: “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (v 2).
These words from the holy writer remind us that Phyllis was a faithful bride in more than one way. Not only was she married to Jake for 70 years, but she was also by virtue of her Holy Baptism a part of the New Jerusalem in the Church, which is Christ’s bride.
Just as Phyllis had prepared herself those many years ago to be joined together with Jake, so also was she prepared by the washing of regeneration to be united with her Lord Jesus. St. Paul writes to the Ephesians, “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-27).
When Phyllis was joined together with Christ, the promise of our heavenly Father was fulfilled, “Behold, I am making all things new” (v 5). Phyllis had become a new creation in Jesus Christ when that baptismal water poured over her. The old, sinful self was drowned and a new person arose from the font to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. Everything about Phyllis was made new, except for her flesh.
Her old, sinful flesh still clung to her, which meant that even though there were few who were more pleasant, she still was inclined to all manner of sins. This was not something that would have surprised Phyllis. She knew it well, which is why she was so often to be found in the Divine Service. It was always my joy to see Jake wheeling Phyllis into church an hour early so that they could make sure that the appropriate pages were marked. And after Jake went to be with Jesus, Phyllis still made sure that there was someone who could bring her to church, at least for Sundays of Holy Communion, so that she could be again united with her Lord in the mystical union of the Sacrament.
The heavenly Father spent a lifetime making Phyllis new, week in and week out, through repentance and forgiveness. And today, St. Paul’s words are fulfilled, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). The old, sinful flesh that clung to Phyllis has finally been laid to rest. She is no more burdened with a fallen and frail body. Yet, because she was joined in this life to the One who makes all things new, she is also now looking forward to a new body, a resurrected body. Because she is now still a part of the New Jerusalem, she awaits the day when our Lord’s promises will be fully realized. “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (vv 3-4).
I’ve been told that Phyllis and Jake would go out to eat in Streator every day. That’s about an hour, round-trip. On Monday, Phyllis joined Jake again for a meal, only this time it was at the wedding feast of the Lamb. “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev 19:9). Dear family and friends, this invitation is also for you. When you kneel at the altar to receive Christ’s body and blood, you join Phyllis, Jake, and all the company of heaven in this wedding feast of the Lamb who was slain.
Today we entrust Phyllis to the God and Father of our crucified and risen Lord, who says, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son” (vv 6-7).
In T Jesus’ name. Amen.
VDTMA
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