Bishop's Note: Lessons and the Sermon

Bishop Eric Menees

Dear brothers and sisters, 

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I pray that this Bishop’s Note finds you safe and well! Today we are continuing our examination of the 2019 Book of Common Prayer’s Pastoral Rites section. Last week we looked at the burial collects, and this week we’ll be looking at the lessons and the sermon.

I think the lessons for burial are one of the more underutilized sections of the burial service. Most people will gloss over them and think they’re something to use only when lessons are being decided for a burial service, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. These aren’t just lessons to be used for burial service, these are the passages of scripture that the church recommends as the most appropriate to read at times when we as Christians confront death. These are formally used for burials, but the BCP is pointing us to passages we can turn to any time we or others are struggling with death or lose sight of the hope we have as Christians. For example, if we start thinking of a loved one who has died a long time ago and start to think of how difficult it is not having them regularly in our lives, it’s a huge comfort to turn to Wisdom 3 and remember that, “the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them.”

And being the most appropriate passages for this time, it’s important that they be the subject of the sermon that follows. Too often people want speeches just praising the life of the person who died. That’s not what a burial service is for. This service is to look at the underlying meaning of the death and to pray for the deceased and their family. We don’t earn a way into heaven through our actions, only through the work of Jesus Christ and our turning to him in faith. It is appropriate and good to mention the life of the person who died in the sermon, but the time for eulogies is the reception after the service. Preaching the Word of God at this time is of vital importance. It is a reminder to the congregation, who are understandably thinking existentially about life, that salvation is found through Jesus Christ and Him alone; the fact that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him” is of utmost importance. Many may want to hear humorous anecdotes about the deceased, but what they need to hear is the promise of Jesus Christ!

I pray you all a blessed Second Sunday in Lent!

The Lessons

One or more of the following passages from Holy Scripture is read.

Isaiah 25:6-9 (He will swallow up death for ever)

Isaiah 61:1-3 (To comfort all who mourn)

Lamentations 3:22-26,31-33 (The Lord is good to those who wait)

Wisdom 3:1-5, 9 (The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God)

Job 19:21-27a (I know that my Redeemer lives)

A suitable psalm, hymn, or canticle may follow. The following Psalms are appropriate: 39, 42:1-7, 46, 90:1-12, 121, 130, 139:1-11v.

Romans 8:14-19,34-39 (The glory that is to be revealed)

1 Corinthians 15:20-26,35-38,42-44,53-58 (The imperishable body)

2 Corinthians 4:16—5:9 (Things that are unseen are eternal)

1 John 3:1-2 (We shall be like him)

Revelation 7:9-17 (God will wipe away every tear)

Revelation 21:2-7 (Behold, I am making all things new)

A suitable psalm, hymn, or canticle may follow. The following Psalms are appropriate: 23, 27, 106:1-5v, 116.

John 5:24-27 (Whoever believes has eternal life)

John 6:37-40 (All that the Father gives me will come to me)

John 10:11-16 (I am the good shepherd)

John 11:21-27 (I am the resurrection and the life)

John 14:1-6 (In my Father’s house are many rooms)

If Communion is to follow, a passage from the Gospels always concludes the

Lessons. At a Eucharist, all stand, and the Deacon or Minister appointed says

The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to ________.

People    Glory to you, Lord Christ.

After the Gospel, the Reader says

The Gospel of the Lord.

People     Praise to you, Lord Christ.