Sermon - Kay Domek Funeral - Luke 2:25-32

Dear children, grandchildren, friends, and relatives of Kay, God’s peace be with you. As you mourn the death of your mother, grandmother, and friend, remember what St. Paul teaches us: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” Indeed, God did not spare His own life in order to save you, so even now God will spare no expense on your behalf. Kay’s soul is already in heaven with her Lord on account of Jesus’ sacrifice. You can be at peace knowing that she is with Jesus already. 

Kay was such a kind and tenderhearted woman. I think this was easily exemplified in her love for animals and the outdoors, and especially in her love and care for her cat Mackie. Mackie was always on her mind, especially as she’d often ask: “Where’s Mackie?” I don’t know where the cat normally was, but when I would visit it was common for Mackie to sit in my briefcase that carried my Bible, Hymnal, and Communion Kit, and I have pictures to prove it. Kay always apologized, but it was cute.

Though better yet than her love of cats was her love for the people in her life. If I was having a bad day or week, a visit to Kay to bring her communion was sure to brighten my day. Before I left she always made sure to tell me she loved me and she kissed my hand. But I’m sure it wasn’t me that was anything special, rather it was her love for the Word of God and the Sacrament which I was privileged to bring her.

I imagine the bright smile on her face was similar to the smile on old Simeon when he beheld the infant Jesus in his arms. When Kay received her Lord in the Lord’s Supper, her confession joined Simeon’s, who said: “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

Indeed, Jesus is the light of the world, the light no darkness can overcome! He is the One who redeems us from sin and death. He is our salvation, our Savior, who leads us out of this gloomy world and into the light of His eternal glory. Jesus is the Light of the world and the Light who brightened Kay’s eyes. 

The reason that Christ is the light of Kay’s life is because Kay did dwell in darkness in this life. Kay was very sweet, but she was still a sinner, and she knew it. She wasn’t perfect and so sin did wreak havoc in her life. Her body was frail in her older years, which prevented her from going to church and doing other things. In the last couple years her mind began slipping. Now, here she is in a casket. The reason for all of these things, including her death, is that Kay was like all of us, a sinner.

But because of that darkness, because of her sin, Kay clung to the Light of the world; she clung to Jesus! Jesus is the light who dispels the darkness of sin and death. Jesus died on the cross, the sun darkened, and it appeared as if death had won. But that wasn’t the case, because Christ rose from the dead, and in doing so Jesus destroyed the power of darkness for those who trust in Him. This means that even though Kay had to live in this dark world, like us, she also dwells in the light of Christ and so she has conquered darkness with Him.

Because Kay lives in the light of Christ, her death is not really a death. Kay lives! When Kay died her soul was carried by the angels to heaven, her body resting here. We will lay Kay and her husband Bob into the ground and she will rest in peace. For Kay, her death is little more than falling asleep in Christ. Because at the last, when Jesus returns, Kay will awaken and rise from the grave to meet her Savior, the Light of the world, and greet Him face to face! 

“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” This means that not even Kay’s death can separate her from her Savior who has redeemed her, both body and soul, from the darkness of death.

The fact that Kay is given life by her Savior is why the angels rejoice at the birth of Jesus! “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Or as we will sing in just a few minutes: “Hark! The herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!’”

All of this started for Kay when she was reborn in the waters of Baptism as a baby. In that Baptism God adopted Kay as His daughter and marked her as His own beloved child. “In baptism we now put on Christ - our shame is fully covered with all that He once sacrificed and freely for us suffered. For here the flood of His own blood now makes us holy, right, and good before our heavenly Father.” Because of her baptism God remembers Kay and never forgets her. God promises: “Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

So when you remember Kay, and you reminisce over fond memories, remember especially that God remembers her and that she lives even now in heaven. Remember that Kay maintained faith in her Lord up until her dying day and greatly valued God’s Word and Sacraments all her life. Because God was faithful to Kay and Kay was faithful in return, Kay lives in heaven.

Your memories that you made with Kay are only the beginning. God is faithful towards you and has sent His Son to die on your behalf, so if you are faithful toward God in return, if you like Kay, live in the light of Christ, you will get to see Kay again in paradise. This means that you haven’t seen her for the last time, but you will get to dwell with her and Jesus, and all the saints, forever in paradise. Her bright smile will be even brighter when you see her again.