Peg Ziersch Funeral (11 May 2018)

+ In nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti + Amen.

Text: John 14:6
Theme: The Way, Truth, and Life

Dear family, friends, and loved ones of Peg, and especially you, Karen, Michael, and Andrew, her children;

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.”1 That’s what the word of God says, and it is now true for Peggy Ziersch. She is free from all frailties, infirmities, and cruelties that beset us in this life. The happiness she now knows is beyond words. When St. Paul had a glimpse of paradise he said that he “heard inexpressible things2. So, while we grieve, we also give thanks to our gracious God that Peg is now privy to these things.

Reflection on the life of any Christian is both a cause for gratitude and an occasion learning. The lessons to be gleaned from Peg’s life are many and colourful. God blessed others through her in humble, authentic, humorous, and yes, sometimes maddening ways. Life was challenging throughout most of her early years. She was born with no silver spoon in her mouth. Her mother died when she was not yet three. Yet, she persevered. Peg understood hard work. Frugal, resourceful, determined; she was never wasteful and always generous. She was never idle. There were always things to do on the block, and the cows always had to be milked. Still, time was made to be in the Lord’s house and Sunday was the day around which the rest of the revolved.

In her later years, Peg lamented how drastically times had changed and how many were falling away from the faith. Those who attended Bible study with her were always in for a treat. Feeling humble and inadequate she still made her queries and comments with bravery. She had an uncomplicated but deep desire to understand God’s word. Deeply influenced by the weight of God’s law and legalism in her early years, she longed to find comfort in the freedom of the gospel. She grew to appreciate God’s grace. How many times did we hear Peg say, “I shouldn’t be asking this, but…” or “What’dya reckon?” or “That’s a little bit naughty, don’t you think?” About those she thought God had been more than fair to she often said, “They had their chance.”

Peg didn’t really like to talk about death. Undoubtedly, she wasn’t fussed about any particular arrangements for her funeral. But her hesitation may have also been an expression of the intrinsic human fear of dying. The tendency of our current culture is to trivialize and sanitize death. We glorify it in the cinema and the gaming world, desensitising young and impressionable minds to the real finality of death. In virtual reality the characters are blown up or shot down, but in the next episode or next round of the game, they’re back again as good as new. We make death seem trivial. The living, breathing, flesh and blood world we live in is not that way. We also tend to sanitize death by our frequently sterile way of dealing with it. ‘Out of sight, out of mind’.

But that does nothing to solve the dilemma. Death is the unalterable consequence of sin. No human can overcome it. Peg had a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of others. She knew that she was a sinner in need of God’s grace and in that regard, she was no different than anyone else. The Bible allows for no exceptions when it says, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead."3 No one can stand at the judgment and account for their own sins.

The death of Jesus Christ on the cross was the sacrifice that covered the sins of the world. No one can get to heaven in any other way, for He says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”4 But no sinner is beyond the reach of His mercy. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.”5 And again, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.”6 Therefore the Bible says,“Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, - who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.”7

When we leave this mortal life the Scripture tells us, “There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’" 8 Peg longed to be made new. She looked forward to the restoration of her sight, the restoration of her hearing, and, in the end, the restoration of her mind. But most of all, like all who hope in the Lord and look forward to the fulfilment of His promises, Peg anticipated with great eagerness being perfected in righteousness. Self-deprecating and always dismissive of her worthiness, it was beyond her wildest imagination to picture herself robed in the perfect holiness of Christ. Yet, she knew she was a baptized child of God and that counted for something. She confessed her belief in the resurrection of the dead.

Dear friends, there aren’t any shortcuts for grief. There is no inoculation program that makes one immune to its influence. Not that grief is shameful or something to be avoided. It is a necessary pain. It involves the recognition of human vulnerability in its most absolute context. We feel the pain of separation and we are powerless to stop it. Life is torn from us and we understandably feel the loss even if we were preparing for it. Yet, Christ does not fail to make good on His promises. He says, “As the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”9 Peg has made that transition. She has traversed the inscrutable abyss and her soul has been escorted into the kingdom of immortal light. There a sublime peace reigns and immeasurable joy permeates the very fabric of all existence.

It was my privilege to be at Peg’s bedside when she drew her last breath. It was about 10 minutes before midday. A couple of carers had just left the room a short time before. I assured Peg that the forgiveness of her sins was an absolutely unshakeable truth. The Good Shepherd was about to receive His lamb into eternal pastures. Crucified and risen, His immortal life was about to be hers. She turned her head slightly to the right and the angels quietly escorted her soul into the presence of the divine. But we can safely assume the atmosphere in that dimension was also one of great joy and fanfare. No believer is received into heaven without great celebration. Though Peg was exceptional, she was no exception. Peg has been crowned with life. She is at rest. Her peace is profound. Her joy is immeasurable. Thanks be to God! Amen.

+ In nomine Jesu +

Christian Burial of Peggy Ziersch
11 May 2018
Reverend Darrin L. Kohrt

1 Psalm 115:16 2 2 Corinthians 12:4
3 Acts 17:30-31 4 John 14:6
5 John 10:27-29 6 John 11:25-26
7Phillipians 3:20-21 8 Revelation 21:4-5
9 John 5:21-24