Dear family and friends of Anna Mae Wolfgram, Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Savior Jesus the Christ. Amen.
The Christian life is not one of ease or convenience. When we are guided by the Holy Spirit into the waters of holy baptism, where we die to sin and rise with Christ to new life, we do not magically escape from the suffering of this world; rather, in our suffering and our struggles, we have our Lord Jesus who remembers us and does not leave us or forsake us. Through the water and the word, we are joined to our Lord, and he is made one with us. So when we Christians endure hardship imposed upon us by the world, the devil, or our sinful flesh, these hardships also come upon our crucified and risen Savior. And this hope of our Christian faith was no different in the life of our dear sister Anna Mae.
In our second reading from Saint Paul’s second letter to a young and timid disciple, Timothy was most likely one of the last words that he wrote before he himself departed this world to join his Lord Jesus, as he was about to be killed for professing the name of Christ to the nations. Saint Paul says that his departure is at hand, and as he begins to reflect on his years of ministry, he says, “for I am already being poured out as a drink offering.” Again, he says the word “already.” Not that he will soon be poured out or that he awaits being poured out. But that he is being continually poured out before the Father, as an offering. This tells us that the Christian bears the image of God here and now as we suffer hardship and struggle because we bear witness to Jesus.
Look to the life of Paul. After his conversion on the road to Damascus to be a follower of Christ, he became an enemy to the world, to Satan, and to sin. He speaks of his suffering in another letter that he has been beaten and flogged and shipwrecked. He has also endured the loss of sleep, food, water, and shelter while always being on the move, not only to escape from death, but more importantly to spread the gospel of Christ Jesus.. Even in all this, his main concern was for his churches and not for himself. As he says again, “Now I rejoice in my suffering for you.”
This sounds like our beloved sister. The many things she has carried for the sake of her family and for those whom she loves so dearly. From her childhood of losing her mother to polio, and needing to step up for the sake of her younger siblings. Or as a mother putting the needs of others before herself, caring for Daral and their five children, which can be no easy task. See the fruits of her labor as a mother and spouse sitting in these front pews. Being brought up in this church and taught the fear and knowledge of the one true God. They were raised to prioritize our Lord Jesus Christ and the family that the Lord has given them. To be a faithful spouse to Daral, in not just one round of cancer, but two. To see her own son, her firstborn, to fight cancer and win, and tragically be taken home to his heavenly Father. Oh yes, there were many joys in Anna Mae’s life that cannot be taken away. To see the birth of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. As she rarely forgot a birthday. To see children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren be baptized, confirmed, and married. And during her own illness of ovarian cancer, she did not let any of these trials overcome her joys and her faith in Jesus Christ. As our Lord has been there for Anna Mae every step of the way in times of joy and times of struggle.
This is also something that she taught her children and those around her. When times were hard, she taught them to depend on Christ, telling them, “Remember that Jesus and I love you.” And then those times of sorrow and grief she told them again “Cry and you cry alone. Laugh and the whole world will laugh with you.”
For Christians, we do not boast in our accomplishments or hold up our hardships because it is not we who bear them alone. It is our Lord Jesus Christ who provides strength, wisdom, and courage to bring us through these things. It is faith given to us by the Holy Spirit that was given to her by the hearing of the Word of God, which created and kept her in the one true faith until life’s end. For this faith given to Anna Mae and to all Christians is not faith in a mortal man, such as the Apostle Paul, but in the very Son of God, our Lord Jesus. Christ, who has looked upon Anna Mae and all humanity with love and compassion by taking upon himself human flesh and blood for our salvation. So that he would carry the sins of the whole world committed from the very beginning until the very end is he died on the cross of Calvary. He is the very Lamb of God who was led to the slaughter to save us from our sins. He became sin itself as he hung and died.
And even on the cross, he says, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” What marvelous and comforting words for us, since he was forsaken, we will never be forsaken or forgotten by our heavenly Father. Through everything that we carry on our backs, every tear from our eyes, and sorrow that breaks us down, Christ is in the midst of us even now. He knows our suffering through his cross and has given us the victory by his resurrection. As he ascended on high, he continues to make his dwelling among us, in our hearts. And there he continues to give us faith until he brings us to our final home.
And if we could ask Anna Mae, what was it that brought you through it all, even until the end? Her answer would certainly be quite simple, mirroring the words of the apostle, “It is not I, but Christ who lives within me.”
And now our sister in Christ has obtained the goal of her faith, which is eternal life with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Do not fret or be dismayed, but do not feel as if you cannot mourn or weep. Yet, we do not mourn as those who have no hope. For she has fought the good fight and has finished the race, not on her own, but because and through her Lord Jesus.
Therefore, you also keep the faith. The Lord does not abandon. The Lord comforts and leads us unto himself in his heavenly mansions that he has prepared for those who love his appearing. Christ Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and through his Holy Spirit, he will bring us to the way that leads to eternal life, where we will be joined with such a great cloud of witnesses, including our sister Anna Mae. May Almighty God, through the death of his only begotten Son, accomplish this in us by the power of his Holy Spirit. Amen.
St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish 