Edna Benson Funeral
St. Peter’s Gentilly (3/8/00)
Letter from Avis… is full of the hope that St. Paul’s letter to the Romans holds for us. St. Paul talks about the hope that is ours in the water’s of baptism. Jesus suffered tremendously and died, but that was not the end for him because he was raised up to eternal life forever. We are reminded today that even though we may experience suffering our lives, even though we will die, that is not an end for us. We received the promise of eternal life in our baptism.
Edna certainly had her share of suffering in her life, especially the past few years that she spent in the nursing home. We gather here today to mourn her death. But we also gather her today to celebrate her life. We celebrate the 92 years of life she lived on this earth and we celebrate, in faith, our hope that she will share in the eternal life that was promised in her baptism.
In her younger years, I understand Edna was always busy. She worked hard. She loved to garden. She, especially loved to cook and entertain guests. I’ll bet Edna could have related to Martha in the gospel story about Martha and Mary.
Martha, it seems loved to entertain, too. And in the story we heard today she and her sister Mary have Jesus as a guest in their home. Can’t you just picture Martha, racing around 100 mile an hour, preparing the meal, making sure everything is just so… All of the sudden she realizes that Mary is just sitting out there next to Jesus gazing into his eyes, listening to him and doing absolutely nothing. Doesn’t seem fair, does it? But when Martha complains to Jesus, he tells her not to get so stress out and that Mary has made the better choice.
The story of Martha and Mary reminds us of the need to have balance in our lives. There are times when we need to be like Martha. There are times when it is necessary be involved with all the busyness of our hectic lives. But this story also powerfully reminds us that sometimes we can get so caught up in the fast pace of our everyday lives that we don’t take the time to “sit beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak.”
As we listen to this gospel and celebrate Edna’s life today, maybe this is the question for us to ask ourselves today is this: Are we so busy that when we just don’t take advantage times when Jesus calls us to sit quietly to talk with him and listen to him?
This gospel is not a call to spend all of our time in quiet prayer. It does not condemn us because we are busy and hard working. It does remind us, however, that our lives need balance.
St. Paul reminds us that the hope in eternal life is ours in baptism. Jesus reminds us in the gospel that a part of our baptismal call is to find time in our busy lives to pray and worship God.
Avis said in her letter that she would hold fond memories of her grandma in her heart until they day she is united with her in heaven. All of us can look forward to that day when we can join Edna in heaven “sitting beside the Lord at his feet and listening to him speak”.