Some months later the punk junior in high school was having a bit of a crisis of faith. It wasn't like him to miss church, he had pretty much gone every week of his life. But due to the "pressures" of high school, and this thought that God had placed in his head, he was having trouble sorting things out. Questions like, "Why does God want me to do this?" and "Why can't I just be normal?" intruded upon his conscience. He felt the struggle of desiring a life of service in the ministry with a teenage boy looking to enjoy life. A long standing "church-boy," as some previous Sunday School and Confirmation students used to kid him, had missed a month of Sunday services and was not going on his youth group's summer trip. But there he found himself inside that same churches narthex again peering through the stain glassed windows of the "front door" as the sun was setting when that same older and wiser man entered.
"So, Matt, what are your thoughts on the pastoral ministry?"
Aside from my immediate family if there was one person I wanted to be at my ordination it was John Woods. I'm merely a first year seminarian and John has gone to be with his Lord. This was not the only time Deacon Woods helped me along in my faith. He was my 5th grade First Communion instructor, my 6th grade Sunday School teacher, he was present at the Tuesday Morning men's bible studies I frequented up to late this past summer, and he was a great casual conversation partner. His sermons were long, often too long, but he spoke of God's incredible grace every time. He cared deeply about Christ's church and took seriously his commitment as a deacon, literally a servant, in any way the church needed him.
He lost his wife a while ago to cancer and you could tell that always hurt him, but he pressed on knowing and trusting ever more that one day again he would see his wife, Janice. And even more than that he knew that his life's work was not in vain, because he would one day see his Lord that he trusted in.
That day has come. John struggled greatly the last 6 months as life took a physical toll on him. And it is a great comfort to know that he is at rest with Jesus. But it would be misleading, even dishonest, to say that he is now at home. It would be robbing him of the promise he received from God in his baptism to say he is now whole. John rests comfortably with the Church Triumphant but he is not home and he is not whole. This servant of God now awaits in heaven with all the saints the day that will come when the trumpets sound and Christ raises the dead.
In the Gospel that bears his name there is a scene where Jesus' good friend, Lazarus, dies. As Jesus and His disciples are approaching to Lazarus' home in Bethany, Lazarus' sister Martha runs up ahead to meet Jesus and says, "Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give to you." Jesus replied, "Your brother will rise again." Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." Jesus said to her, "I Am the resurrection and the life..."
Jesus actually went on to bring Lazarus back from the dead that day. But later on Lazarus would die again. All human beings die. It is mistakenly called a natural part of life as though the Author of life would have death reign. Well, the Author of life would not have death reign. Before the foundation of the world Jesus was the resurrection and the life. Those who are in faith, though they may die, will live forever. This is not simply a disembodied soul that floats about in some distant reality called heaven forever, no it is more than that.
Don't get me wrong, John and all the saints are in heaven, but this is not the end. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ death no longer reigns, Christ reigns. He reigns currently from heaven awaiting the signal from the Father that the time has come to restore creation. Jesus is coming again, and all the dead will be raised.
When I found out last week that Deacon Woods was very ill I selfishly hoped he would hold on until I came home, which is next week (2/20). When he taught First Communion classes he would bring us to the altar and have us ponder its significance. He confidently and boldly told us that during that sacrament, you are never closer to God on earth than in that moment. At that sacrament you are also joined with all the saints, from around the world, and in heaven. Holy Communion is a foretaste of the feast to come in the resurrection. So although I won't be able to visit with John at his house or even in the pews, halls, or rooms of Trinity Lutheran Islip, I confidently and boldly go to that altar knowing that in that sacrament I receive the very physical presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins. And even more than that I visit with John, and all the saints, in that glorious foretaste of the feast still to come.
God's rest and peace to a man who was a sinner and a saint, and has shed the former to live in the latter forever, +Saint John Woods
