JJ
Memorial Service for Dora Knodel John 10:2-6, 11-16
A life that began 104 years ago, in an era that is so very difficult for us to
fully picture. A world just recently lit by electricity, where horsepower was truly
provided by horses, where humanity’s dream of flight was still hatching in the
backroom of a bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. A life that ended in the era of the
internet, and of instant communication, where interstellar flight is the next big
thing on the drawing board. It was a life of over a century, seeing some of the
greatest triumphs, and tragedies of human history.
And yet that is not what makes Dora, whom we are here this day to
remember, to mourn and to commend to our gracious Lord, so incredible. What
makes her so incredible is the one with whom she walked for that 104 year
journey- our Triune God. Beginning with the waters of Holy Baptism that were
poured out upon her, Dora was marked with the Cross of Christ. She was
claimed by Christ as sheep of His own fold.
But many who are here this morning, and many who want to be here but
are precluded from doing so by work and other circumstances, knew Dora not
just as a fellow sheep, but as one who spoke in the soft and gentle words and
tones of the Good Shepherd. For over 50 years she taught Sunday School to
generations of children at Saint Stephen’s Lutheran Church.
Think of all those young people who learned that they are beloved of the
Good Shepherd because they heard His voice through the lessons and love
shown by Mrs. Knodel.
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There, in the chancel, in front of the altar, is a fairly non-descript little
chair. With it, at one time was a bower. It is, of course, the Birthday Chair. In it
sat all the boys and girls whose birthday was close to that Sunday in Sunday
School. When you think about, the singing of Happy Birthday is more than a
lovely gracious nicety in the weekly ritual of class. It is also a theological
statement. It is saying that we are glad you are here and it is saying by
extension that God is glad that you are here. Sometimes the deepest and most
profound lessons are in the simplest of truths. We have sung together Jesus
Loves Me. A song that some might say is appropriate for children and their
simple faith. It was song that Dora taught and a song that Dora loved. But along
with Dora, one of the greatest theological minds and Biblical exegetes of the 20th
Century was asked to sum up what he had learned and what he had taught
about the Faith. His answer was the words we sang- “Jesus loves me, this I
know, for the Bible tells me so.”
This was something that Dora knew and in which she trusted. I always
appreciated the joy she showed when I came to visit and to bring her the
Eucharist. She knew who it was who had come to her in that bread and wine.
She could hear the voice of the Good Shepherd.
Yet even as she received, she gave. Dora was a gracious hostess, up to
the last visit where we shared the Lord’s Supper before her death. And she
cared so deeply about all of you- her family- her children, grandchildren and
great grandchildren.
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And she cared so deeply for her Saint Stephen’s family as well. Even in
her last years, she would either ask me, or sometimes tell me, about what was
going on here with those whom she knew and loved. She shepherded others as
she herself was shepherded.
That is, ultimately, is the gift that we celebrate this day. A faith that was
grounded in the waters of Baptism, that was nourished with God’s Holy Word and
blessed Sacrament, was a faith that was constantly poured out so lovingly for
others to share.
The Book of Genesis records briefly the story of Enoch who walked with
God and lived unto a great age and then “was not” because God called him
home. In our time, 104 is a great age. Dora, who walked with Jesus, the Good
Shepherd throughout her life, last week finally heard the clear call of His voice.
She responded and rests now in His love.
And so may we and all those who have been baptized into the Paschal
Mystery hear the voice of our Good Shepherd, in His Word and Sacraments, and
may we join with Dora and all the saints at last in that one flock. where we will
abide in His love and dwell in his house forevermore.
AMEN
SDG
11/1/2006 8:53 PM
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