<p> Ron Keller Funeral – May 19, 2000 Sympathy to those who knew and loved Ron Keller When we experience the death of a loved one, it can be a time for us to remember - we remember the good times with Ron as well as the difficult times. Even though he is no longer physically with us, each person who knew Ron has memories of him. Those memories allow him to live on in our lives.</p><p>As I visited with people who knew Ron well, we talked about the good times in his life and we talked about the difficult times. We talked about how proud he was of his time in the Marines and his tour of Vietnam. We talked about how Ron loved to ride his bike and ride it fast. We remembered how he enjoyed the time when he owned the Pizza Plaza. We also talked about how the disease of alcoholism was something that Ron struggled with most of his life. It was talking about the struggles that Ron went through in his life that led us to talk about what a caring, loving person he was. When he was in treatment he would often more concerned about helping others who he met there than helping himself. He was always ready to help someone in need. He loved to be around people – he was fiercely loyal to his friends – he had a special place in his heart for children and the elderly. Each of us has memories of Ron – memories that allow him to live on in hearts.</p><p>This funeral, however, is not just a time for us to remember Ron’s life. A funeral is also a time of hope. Our scriptures today remind us of the hope that comes from the death and resurrection of Jesus. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that we are promised eternal life through Jesus Christ. Paul also tells us that wherever sin exists in our lives God’s grace is present – and not only that – if sin increases, God’s grace overflows even more. What a message of hope that is for all of us, for we are all sinners. We can also find hope in the Acts of the Apostles where we are reminded that as human beings we don’t have to judge each others lives – in the end it is a merciful Jesus who will sit in judgement of our lives. </p><p>Yes this funeral is a time for us to remember Ron’s life with us. It is a time to celebrate our hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. Funerals also invite us to reflect - to reflect about our own lives, our relationship with Jesus and our relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ. The gospel – the beatitudes – we read today invites us to reflect upon our relationship with Jesus and each other. Ron had a real genuine concern for people who were in need. He was always willing to help. The beatitudes remind us of just how much we need each other. It especially challenges us to remember that it is those who the world would call the “least” that we need to be in relationship with the most. The beatitudes are radically counter-cultural in our world today.</p><p>Just listen to how Jesus, in the Beatitudes, turns our world’s perspective of things upside down. Would not we say of those with money, "they've been blessed?" But hear him say, "blessed are the poor." Do we not count our blessings when we haven't suffered tragedy or death? But he declares, "blessed are those who mourn." Blessed are the filled, those who have, the farm belt, the breadbasket of the world. To which he responds, "how blessed are those who hunger and thirst." Admirable do we account the strong, the vengeful, the powerful and the positioned. But with tender words he tears down this ideology and declares, "blessed are the merciful, peacemakers and the lowly." From the comfort of our easy chairs do we not count our blessings for quiet time and being out of the fray of controversy? But he who was crucified for his father's will to save says, "blessed are those who are persecuted and insulted for my sake." And do not many declare freedom to mean being free from moral restrictions? But by his measuring stick Jesus calls the single hearted blessed. </p><p>The beatitudes for the wealthy, the powerful, the positioned, the comfortable, the happy and the bountiful do not condemn them as not blessed. The beatitudes simply and profoundly say to such that you are nothing without the poor, the meek, the lowly, the persecuted, the sorrowful, the hungry and the thirsty. For without them what good is your blessing? The power of the beatitudes is that it makes everyone of us keenly aware of how much we need each other. The funeral we celebrate today is an opportunity to remember our life with Ron. It is a time to celebrate our hope of eternal life in Jesus Christ. This is also a time for each of us to reflect upon our relationship – with Jesus and with each other. </p>