Miracles

St. Paul’s Church in Bergen, Jersey City NJ

November 15, 2014

The Funeral of Amreeth P. Seepersaud, Sr.

Wisdom 3:1-5, 9

Psalm 23

Revelation 7:9-17

John 14:1-6a

Miracles

            As his death approached, Jesus gathered with his friends for one last meal.  Throughout his ministry Jesus had warned his disciples what was going to happen to him, yet they couldn’t or wouldn’t understand, refused to accept, refused to believe, that the One they had recognized and followed as the messiah was going to die.

            But, gathered for what was clearly their last meal together, the truth must have begun to sink in.

            The four gospels give somewhat different accounts of the last meal shared by Jesus and his disciples.

            The passage I just read comes from the Gospel of John.           

            In this gospel, Jesus reassures the disciples that although he is leaving them, they know the way – they know the way to God – they know the way to the place where they – where we - will all be reunited.

            Yet, the Apostle Thomas speaks for all the disciples, speaks for all of us, when in confusion and fear, and, yes, doubt, he asks Jesus, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

            And Jesus says: “I am the way…” Jesus tells the disciples – and tells us here today – that in and through his life, death and resurrection, Jesus shows us the way to God.           

            What is the way?

            What is the way of Jesus?

            It’s really not so complicated.

            The way of Jesus is love.

            The way of Jesus is to love God and to love one another.

            The way of Jesus is love – not mushy, sentimental love, but sacrificial love – love that is revealed in the hard work of serving others, of giving away our lives for others.

            Well, we know for sure that our brother Amreeth Seepersaud understood that the way is love – that the way is the hard work of sacrificial love.

            I know that over the past year or so many of us in this room who love Amreeth have been praying for a miracle – praying that God would offer a miraculous cure, causing the cancer to disappear from our brother’s body so he could get back to the life that he wanted so much to live.

            We didn’t get that miracle.

            But, it seems to me that over the years - and especially in the past year - we have received even greater miracles.

            First, we have received the miracle of just knowing and loving this good man.

            You don’t need me to tell you that it has been a difficult year or so since Amreeth received his devastating diagnosis of cancer.

            But, I’ve learned that this kind of severe illness often reveals who a person really is – this kind of suffering uncovers what’s in a person’s heart.

            Like all of us, Amreeth wasn’t perfect. Like everybody else, over the course of his life he made his share of mistakes, but, in case there was any doubt, this past year of illness revealed that Amreeth’s heart was full of love and faith.

             So, as hard as it’s been, it has also been such a privilege for me to walk with Amreeth and Sheila over these months, through the lows of chemotherapy and failing energy and the highs of good days when life seemed to return nearly to normal.

            Although I’ve known the Seepersauds for a long time, over the past year I really encountered the loving and faithful heart of Amreeth.

            Or, should I call him Paul?

            Or, maybe Ramesh?

            Over the past year I learned that this man of several names was a great dad to Amreeth Jr. and Kishore.

            When he talked about his family, it was obvious that Amreeth really enjoyed being a father.

            He got truly enthused when he talked about his days as a scout leader and what that meant to him and to his boys.

            One time when he was talking about scouts I said the words “Pinewood Derby” and his eyes widened and he broke into a wide smile.

            “Pinewood Derby. I haven’t thought about that in years.”

            Amreeth loved his sons and later that love grew to include their wives and their children.

            And, Amreeth sure loved his wife.

            Over the past difficult year it was very moving and inspiring to witness the love shared by Amreeth and Sheila, to see them truly live out their marriage vows of loving, comforting, honoring, and keeping each other, especially in times of sickness.

            It was powerful to see Sheila pretty much drop everything to be there for her beloved husband, advocating for him with his doctors and the nurses and everybody else at the hospital, insuring that he got the best possible care, spending so many nights sleeping on a bed in his hospital room, caring for Amreeth until literally his last breath.

            Just a few days before he died, I happened to be visiting the hospital and I wasn’t really sure if Amreeth was aware of my presence – he was looking off in the distance as if gazing at a faraway land.

            But, then Sheila walked into the room and his eyes immediately focused, locked on to her and his mouth widened into a gentle smile and he gave her a little wave – delighted to see her even through, especially through, the fog of illness and painkillers.

            Amreeth had a loving heart.

            And then, there was Amreeth’s faith, which was quiet but it was so strong.

            I told him several times that I hoped I would face illness as gracefully and faithfully as he did.

            From the first time Amreeth told me about his diagnosis to his last weeks, he maintained complete trust in God.

            For as long as he could he came to church, both on Sundays and often to our healing service on Wednesdays.

            He was always eager to receive communion – to be nourished by the Body of Christ.

            He was always ready to accept laying on of hands and anointing with Holy Oil.

            Yes, of course, he wanted to live longer – he wanted more time with Sheila and the rest of his family and his friends – he would have gladly welcomed a miraculous cure - but he also knew that no matter what he was in God’s hands and God’s love was never going to let go of him.

            And, you know, Amreeth’s strong and quiet faith, in the face of great pain and suffering,  is itself a great miracle.

            Today, for many of us, the hard truth begins to sink in: Amreeth’s life with us here has come to an end.

            It’s a real and painful loss.

            We are going to miss him so very much.

            But, you know, God had one last miracle for Amreeth – and God has one last miracle in store for us.

            Amreeth’s heart of love and faith lives on in the full presence of God.

            God has not let go of Amreeth.

            And, as our brother believed, as our brother knew, God’s love will never let go of us.

            Amen.