Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17
“When We Turn Back to Dust”
As I was preparing the sermon for this morning, I was also preparing another sermon for the funeral of one of our beloved church members, Brenda Thomson (which is happening tomorrow morning at Speers Funeral Chapel).
As I read about Moses dying on Mount Nebo at the age of 120, I was also thinking about Brenda, dying in the Pasqua hospital at the age of 97. As I read about the Israelites weeping and mourning Moses for 30 days, I thought about Brenda’s family and friends missing her presence and grieving her death.
And then I read the tribute to Moses where it is written, “Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face. He was unequaled for all the signs and wonders that the Lord sent him to perform in the land of Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants and his entire land, and for all the mighty deeds and all the terrifying displays of power that Moses performed in the sight of all Israel.”
And I thought of Brenda again – about the tributes that will be shared at her service tomorrow, about the wonderful ways she loved, how she served, how she shared her gifts and her wisdom, and the difference that she made in the lives of so many people.
The final thing I noticed in the Scripture text was the mention of Joshua. After Moses has died and is buried, the story goes on to Joshua, noting that he was full of the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid hands on him. Although Moses was honoured as a great prophet who had led the people with wisdom, determination, and power, another leader would come after him and continue his mission. The text says that “the Israelites obeyed [Joshua], doing as the Lord had commanded Moses.”
And this made me think of the people who are following after Brenda. I thought of her daughter Heather, one of our church elders, who continues to carry on the faith that she first learned from her mother. I thought of Brenda’s grandchildren and great grandchildren who will carry on family traditions and keep her memory alive. And I thought of others in the church – all of us who are younger than 97 years old – who are living the faith that was passed on to us through the generations that came before us, from faithful people including Brenda.
Next, I looked at Psalm 90 – the psalm given to us for today in the lectionary – and I noticed that it is the only psalm of the 150 that is actually attributed to Moses. Many of the others were written by David, but this one goes all the way back to Moses. I thought about the fact that Brenda wrote poetry too, and I wondered whether her writings will be passed down and how far they will go – sharing her wisdom, her wonderings, and her humour with the generations to come.
In his psalm, Moses begins with a statement of faith, proclaiming that God has been the dwelling place of human beings in all generations. God was there even before the world was made, and God will be there until the end of time.
By contrast, our lives are short. Moses got 120 years (like the blink of an eye from God’s perspective). Some among us get 97, and others’ lives are much shorter. Moses explains that God “turns us back to dust” saying “Turn back, you mortals.” Our years feel like they are swept away like a dream. Our lives seem like grass that grows up quickly in the morning and then fades and withers just as quickly at night.
I can only imagine that Moses wrote this psalm close to the end of his life. After all, isn’t that the time when we are most likely to look back on our lives with gratitude for God’s blessings? And isn’t that the time when many of us wonder, “Where did the time go? It all seemed to go by so quickly!” I wonder if you can relate to that feeling?
Although I’m not particularly old (well, middle-aged, I guess) I feel privileged to work in an occupation in which talking about death is a regular part of my life. Over the last 25 years, I’ve conducted hundreds of funerals and had countless conversations with people about their wishes, their hopes, and their faith in relation to the reality that they will one day die.
I think there are a lot of people who don’t feel like they can have those conversations, to talk to their loved ones about what they want, or to seriously consider what they believe happens to us after we die. But we had one of those conversations during our Bible study this week. We talked about cremation and traditional burial, where we want to be laid to rest, and whether it matters if there is a place with our name on it or not. (We noted that no one knows exactly where Moses is buried, and yet he is remembered and honoured.)
Some of us have thought about the hymns or the Scripture readings that we want included at our funerals. Like Brenda, who wrote down her selection of Welsh hymns on a little slip of paper, put it in a pill bottle, and placed it in her fridge. The idea was that her family would be sure to find it when they cleared out her fridge after she died!
But when we truly start thinking and talking about the fact that we are all going to die one day – that God is going to turn us back to dust – it’s not just a matter of thinking about our funeral or burial plans. On Wednesday, we started talking about what legacy we would like to leave for future generations.
Just think of Moses, whom God used to lead the Israelites out of slavery, through the wilderness, and into the Promised Land (well, almost there). Just think of Moses’ work of listening to God, receiving God’s commandments, and passing them on to the people to guide and direct them in the best way to live. With God’s help, Moses performed miracles and showed forth God’s power. We hear him described in the text today as “a prophet like no other, whom the Lord knew face to face.” What a legacy!
I wonder what legacy you want to leave to the people who will come after you? You might think of passing on an inheritance to your grandchildren or making a bequest to a church, or charity, or an important cause that is close to your heart. You might want your loved ones to receive some things that were precious to you – a family heirloom, a collection of your writing or things you have made, a home or a business that you began and intend to pass along.
You might hope that your values and your faith will be received by the coming generations. Will someone quote you many years from now with something like, “Grandma used to say, love your neighbour and don’t be quick to judge them” or “I remember going to volunteer with Dad at the lunch program, and that felt good and right.”
In our Bible study discussion, one person said that she’d like to leave the world better than she found it. She thought of big problems like the climate crisis, environmental destruction, poverty, and violence. Wouldn’t it be nice to think that our lives might contribute to making things a little better for the next generation that comes along?
And then we reflected on the fact that we’ll probably never know the full impact that our lives are having on others. Our kindness, our words of encouragement, our friendship, our wisdom shared day-by-day with our families, friends, and neighbours may be making a difference that we are not even aware of – and that will be a part of our legacy too.
In the Catholic Church, there is a tradition during the month of November that I think is quite beautiful. The month begins with All Saints Day on November 1st (which we will celebrate next Sunday as well) and All Souls Day follow on November 2nd when all the dead are remembered. And then throughout the month of November, the people are invited to write the names of their loved ones in a Book of Remembrance that is kept in the church.
The book is left open on a stand or table so the names are visible, and anyone can add the names of their family members, friends, members of the church community, or anyone they wish to commend to God’s mercy.
When I write a name in the book, it feels like a prayer. I remember that person and their life with gratitude. I bring my sorrow and my grief about their death to God, and I look for God’s comfort and strength.
I have placed a book for this purpose on the small table at the front of the church, and I’ll leave it there through the month of November. We’ll remember our loved ones in prayer, and give thanks for God’s grace and the gift of everlasting life. Feel free to add names today after worship, and in the coming weeks.
This practice of remembrance and the Scripture readings today remind us of both the shortness and the preciousness of life. Like Moses and Joshua, we are part of a long line of beloved children of God, blessed with the gift of life and then turned back to dust.
With Moses in the words of Psalm 90, we can pray to God: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants and your glorious power to their children. Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us and prosper the work of our hands – O prosper the work of our hands!”