Romans 8:14-19,34-35,37-39  John 14:1-6

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  [John 14:2  KJV]

At this point in John’s Gospel account of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ, Jesus is well aware that his earthly death and departure are growing near. With urgency and earnestness he is seeking to prepare the disciples for the dangers they will encounter in the days to come, to offer comfort and assurance for the uncertainties of their lives without his earthly presence as their leader and teacher; and Jesus is alerting them to their responsibility as apostles to continue the mission and ministry – to carry the Good News of healing and salvation and everlasting life into all the world.  These words are equally alive with meaning for us two centuries later as we encounter grief and uncertainty and the loss of a physical presence so dear to us, looking to Jesus’ promise for comfort and assurance that our dear friend Marylyn has been received into the hospitality of heaven – into the mansion prepared for her by our Savior Jesus Christ.

Marylyn never mentioned burial without insisting that this would be the Gospel lesson she wanted read on this occasion.  Marylyn understood the significance of being made welcome in the mansion that our Lord has prepared for us.

If you visited Marylyn in her home – her mansion in the biblical sense, you experienced the comfort of her hospitality, which for her was instinctive. Hospitality is one of the essential means of practicing our Christian virtues of faith, hope, and love.  Throughout the Bible, we find record of hospitality as an indisputable value within the Judeo-Christian faith.  Think of Abraham and his three mysterious visitors who revealed God’s promise to him and Sarah.  Much like our earliest settlers on the Western prairie, no stranger would be turned away; all would be hailed from afar and welcomed, summoned to enter and find comfort in whatever meager offerings a prairie family might have available.  Hospitality is a crucial element of our Christian relationship.

Arriving at Marylyn’s home, if you can imagine peering in through her front glass door, a visitor would be inescapably drawn into the warmth and comfort of her home.  Inside there would be a warm welcome, a cozy chair, a cool beverage on a hot day or a warm beverage on a cold day, an offer of sustenance, – there was always food available, and most of all, there would be Marylyn’s brilliant heart-warming smile, a hug, and gracious words of greeting and conversation.  I was never fortunate enough to be there on Bridge days, but I can imagine she brought out her finest china and linen – not a matter of being showy or audacious, but a clear signal to her guest of the importance of the visit.  It was clear that she had prepared a place for the welcomed guest.

Marylyn understood the essence of hospitality and gracious welcome – the unconditional expression of welcome to the visitor.  Even when she was beyond any obvious sense of consciousness, she said to Brenda after a particularly long night, “I think you haven’t rested at all.”  Days after, as the vigil continued and the family gathered for the “long haul,” with the tiny bit of breath remaining, she would ask if they had found adequate comfortable sleeping space.

So, standing outside her front door, peering in, one could not resist entering this place of hospitality.  Marylyn understood the essence of hospitality and gracious welcome.

Coordinating the Altar Guild was a natural ministry for Marylyn.  Her sense of hospitality carried through to this sacred ministry.  She was devoted to seeing that the Lord’s Table was set for our weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist – the outward and visible sign of our Lord’s presence. Entering in the quietude of this sacred space, through her ministry and those of others she has nurtured through the Altar Guild, time and time again, we are drawn into the mystery of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.   The table is set and our Lord has invited us to come be present with him – to come and partake of his promise of everlasting life.  The invitation is irresistible.

We are here to celebrate the life of Marylyn O’Neal – a child of God, a faithful servant. We are here to celebrate the love and joy that Marylyn brought into our lives; but we are not here becauseof Marylyn; we are here to celebrate because of Jesus Christ; we are here because of his promise; we are here seeking comfort in his promise, just as the disciples sought comfort in his promise of ever-abiding presence.  We are here to celebrate the mansion prepared for Marylyn and for each of us by virtue of the one full and perfect sacrifice.  As Jesus is one with the Father, so we too are one with him.

When Marylyn’s earthly breath left her body, the breath of creation swept her into the mansion prepared for her.  Of course, she didn’t hesitate to enter into the hospitality of heaven.

Nor shall we.  When our time comes, if there is a moment to stand peering into the window of the mansion prepared for us, we will not be able to resist; we will not be able to turn and walk away.  Through that door, there are the arms of mercy; there is the blessed rest of everlasting peace; there is the glorious company of the saints in light; there is Marylyn and all those we love who have gone before us.

Along with the Apostle Paul, we affirm:

“that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” [Romans 8:38-9]

Jesus said, “If it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”