"Strength and Dignity are Her Clothing"

The Church of St. Paul & Incarnation, Jersey City NJ

December 20, 2019

The Funeral of Lois Gomez

Proverbs 31:25-31

Psalm 23

Revelation 21:4-7

John 14:1-6

“Strength and Dignity are Her Clothing”

            In the Scripture passage I just read, Jesus has gathered with his disciples, with his closest followers and friends, for one final meal together, what will later be known as the Last Supper.

            Although Jesus had been predicting his death for a while, you know how it is right?

            It’s very hard for us to accept that a person we love so much is going to suffer and die.

            But, now, gathered around the table, the disciples had no choice but to face the fact that Jesus was going to die.

            Jess tries to reassure his friends that every time they gather for a meal like this, he will be present in the bread and wine, present in the community – just as Jesus is surely present with us here today.

            And, as we heard this morning, Jesus also tries to reassure his friends by promising that he is going ahead, going ahead to the place of reunion where he will prepare a place for each of his friends.

            Jesus tries to reassure his friends that they know the way to that place.

            Probably nobody really understood what Jesus was talking about, but the Apostle Thomas seems to be the only one brave enough to speak up and say, actually no, they do not know the way.

            And, Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

            Jesus is the way.

            And, if there’s one thing I can say without a doubt in the world, it’s that our dear sister Lois believed with her whole heart that Jesus is the way.

            Lois followed the way of Jesus her whole life.

            And, that deep faith gave her a consistency, a calmness, and a certainty, in good times and not so good.

            Even during her last few months of illness, while she was certainly sometimes frightened and understandably concerned about her own health and the wellbeing of Luis and the rest of her family, through it all, right to the end she was  deeply grounded by her faith, trusting that God was not going to let go of her, no matter what.

            Today’s Old Testament lesson from Proverbs was selected by her family, by the people who knew her the best, and it is a perfect fit for Lois:

“Strength and dignity are her clothing.”

            I love that.

            I love that because Lois truly was a person of strength and dignity.

And, it was through her strength and dignity and her faith she taught all of us, especially her children and grandchildren.

            During the final week of Lois’ life, I had the privilege of being with so many of you and it was such a gift to see the love that Lois had given you reflected back in your love for her, and your love of one another.

            Throughout her life, strong and dignified Lois showed the way to so many of us, including here in her church, where she and Luis could always be counted on to give generously, to offer a ride to and from church in the truck, to haul something that needed to be moved in that same truck, to show up to just about every event, to always be there for others in need.

            Like for example, a few years back when one of our young parishioners ran away from home, scaring the living daylights out of us all.

            And, what did Lois and Luis do?

They did what they always did: they showed up, going over to the boy’s home, simply sitting with the panicked family, quietly offering a sign of God’s presence in the midst of terror.

Around here, we will all miss her love – and those of us who were really able to get to know her will also her quiet sense of humor.
            Our parishioners know that I try to stand outside church to welcome people to our services, though when the weather’s bad I chicken out and stay indoors, something that Lois usually kidded me about.

            When she would see me standing back there inside the church, Lois would say to me with that half-smile of hers, “How come you’re not outside?” Or, “It’s not that cold out” or “It’s not raining that hard.”

            But, more important than that, every single Sunday when I would welcome her and ask how she was doing she would say, “Fine. How are you doing?” And, it wasn’t just a figure of speech for her. She would wait for an answer, offering genuine love and care.

            I miss that about her already – and I have to mention that I also miss Lois at coffee hour where with some of her closest parishioner friends we’d play one of our favorite games.

            Maybe you know it:

            It’s called “Pick On Luis.”

            So much fun.

So much love.

            And so much for us to miss.

            But, Lois has showed us the way and now it’s up to you and me to follow Lois’ example and be people of strength and dignity, people of faith, friends of Jesus.

            It’s our turn to follow Lois’ example and live lives of love and generosity.

            Lois has completed her earthly journey and is in the place that Jesus has lovingly prepared for her.

            And, we know the way to that place.

            We know the way because we know Jesus – and we know the way because we know Lois.

            Amen.