In Memoriam +Sara
Elizabeth (Lib) Duffau+
May 24, 2025
Text: Ecc. 3
Lib
has always had this way of cutting through the nonsense, hasn’t she? That is, she could make herself clear. Always nicely. Always with class. Always with elegance. Often with humor. But clear.
I think she may be doing that with us today in the readings she has
chosen. Especially the reading from
Ecclesiastes. She didn’t choose these
readings haphazardly. She wants us to know
some things, and think about some things today, even as we weep, and
laugh, and weep some more, and miss her, and remember her, and tell stories
about our times with her.
This
morning, she’s teaching us about life.
Real life. Life here and now, in
this world. Life in the flesh. Life day-to-day. And life as it comes into its fullness in the
Lord Jesus Christ, who has redeemed us, redeemed our lives, by His death for us
on the cross, and who gives us eternal and abundant life in His bodily
resurrection from the dead.
It’s
a rich life, isn’t it, this life we’ve been given? There is a season for everything, for every
matter under heaven. Everything is
beautiful in its time. We are given to
eat and drink and take pleasure in our toil, the work we’ve been given to do,
full of meaning and purpose. Nothing
better for us than to be joyful, and do good, as long as we live. And in that, we have an example to emulate in
Lib.
But
it does run its course, this life. This earthly
life, anyway. For the righteous and
the wicked… that is, those in Christ, and those outside of
Christ. Everyone has to die. It is our common lot. “All are from the dust, and to dust all
return” (Ecc. 3:20; ESV). Lib is
cutting through the nonsense by giving us this reading, compelling us to look
the reality of it in the face… death… and she’s doing it for our good. And the point is not to devalue this
life. Quite the contrary. It is to marvel at the givenness… the gift…
of this life, and the sanctity of it.
But it is also to point out that there is a defect, a deficiency,
especially if this life is all we’re living for. Because of our sin and the resulting
separation from God, this life comes to an end.
Full stop. And everything we’ve
done, everything we leave behind, all that eating and drinking and taking joy
in our toil… even the good we do… all of it eventually fades and perishes,
too.
And
that is why God has put eternity into man’s heart (v. 11). So that we would crave something more. Long for something fuller and more real,
something that endures, something that lasts.
A life without defect or deficiency.
A life, full and fulfilling, and never-ending. Beloved, that is something we can’t make for
ourselves. That is something only God
can do. And He does. He does it for us. “I perceived that whatever God does
endures forever,” Lib wants us to read, and hear, and know; “nothing can
be added to it,” not even by us, “nor anything taken from it,” not
even by us. “God has done it, so that
people may fear”… fear, in the biblical language, means some
combination of reverence and faith… “so that people may fear before
him” (v. 14).
What
Lib wants you to know, and believe (trust!), and confess by your words and
actions, is that true life, real life, life that never ends, is found
only in God. And she even tells us
how to get it. Namely, in Jesus
Christ, God’s Son. Look… there is a
road map right there in the third reading Lib chose for us. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life,”
says Jesus. “No one comes to the
Father except through me” (John 14:6).
If you want life in all its fulness, as it was always meant to be lived;
life, real and abundant and eternal; true life; believe in Jesus. Jesus is the only way. His death.
His resurrection. For you. Lib knew that, and believed it, and confessed
it in her words and actions (even right here this morning). And so, though Lib has died… she lives! She lives! Right now! Her body has expired, it’s true. Even “everything beautiful in its time,”
only has its time. But her spirit
is with Jesus in heaven, where He has prepared a place for her. A room in her Father’s House. And there is something more. Jesus Christ, who is risen from the dead, will
raise her. Bodily, as he is
risen. And what Lib wants you to know,
more than anything, is that what she has in Christ, you also have
in Christ. Believe in Him. Be baptized into Him. Come to His Church to hear Him, and to eat
and drink and take joy in what is imperishable: The crucified and risen body
and blood of the Lord Jesus Christ in His Holy Supper. See, in that way, you can start living this
real and abundant and eternal life right now. With Lib!
In fact, you can meet her as she lives, every time the Church
gathers around the altar, lauding God’s holy Name with angels, and archangels,
and all the company of heaven. There is
Lib, living and lauding among them… among us!
And
you know what having this life in Christ does for day-to-day life in this
world, in this flesh? It transforms
it. Because now you live this earthly
life in light of your life in Christ.
Now you know that you are a beloved child of your heavenly Father. Now you know you have a place in His
Kingdom, His House, at His Table. Now
you know that whatever is wrong in this world is redeemed, and will be made
right, in the End, when Jesus comes again and raises Lib, and raises you, from
the dead. So, now you can hear and
appropriate what Jesus says, and what Lib wants you to know, from the second
reading (Matt. 6:26-34): Do not be
anxious. Do not be anxious about food
and drink. Look at the birds of the
air. Hear their sermon. God loves us, they say. God takes care of us. He feeds us.
We trust Him. How much more value
God places on you. He loves you. He takes care of you. He feeds you.
And the lilies of the field. Mere
grass that withers and dies. What is the
sermon they preach? Look how God clothes
us! We don’t worry about it. We don’t toil and spin. God loves us, and cares for us, and provides
for us. How much more will He do it for
you!
Because
He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up into the death of the cross
for us all, will not forsake us now. He’ll
graciously give us all things needful (Rom. 8:32). Lib doesn’t want you to spend this life
worrying. Instead, do what? Eat.
Drink. Be joyful. Give thanks to God for all of it. But seek first the Kingdom of God and His
righteousness, knowing that all these other things will be added to you
(Matt. 6:33). Live in Christ, because
then you’ll have the real thing. Then,
even when you die, you won’t die. You’ll
live forever. And you’ll get to be with
Lib, again. Forever. You’ll be raised together, bodily, so that
you can embrace again, and laugh together again, and she can tell you when
you’re full of nonsense again. Life in
Christ. Life full and fulfilling. Life resurrected. Life made new.
“For
everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven”
(Ecc. 3:1). Ironically, for us, today
is a time for both weeping and laughter, both mourning and dancing. We’re sad.
Of course we are. We miss Lib. But we rejoice. Because she lives. Because Jesus lives. He is risen from the dead. He’ll raise Lib, and us. Let’s cut through the nonsense, for Lib’s
sake. Death is coming for us all, so
live in Jesus. He is the Way. And don’t waste your time being anxious,
worrying about things. Trust God. He’ll see you through. He will provide. Rejoice.
Eat and drink with thanksgiving.
Toil in joy, doing good. And know
that what God has done, and is doing, for you, in Christ… that endures
forever. It is a rich life, isn’t
it? And it is all gift from God
in Christ, our Savior. Listen to
Lib. She chose these readings for you. No nonsense.
Believe these words. Because
these words are life. In the Name
of the Father, and of the Son X, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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