"Don't let your hearts be troubled" Jesus said.
Is he for real? Of course our hearts are going to be troubled!
Of course we're going to be upset when such a sad and bewildering thing happens!
Don't be troubled? This world is full of trouble, and just seems to get worse.
We've got terrorists out there doing stupid things, there are wars raging, manmade disasters like toxic spills, natural disasters like those bushfires in NSW, and then, on a personal level, all kinds of things can happen to worry us;
We hear of tragedies around the world, but the world seems to cave in when death cruelly snatches one of our loved ones!
Jesus said, "Don't let your hearts be troubled."
In other words, he's saying "It's going to be ok."
When someone says this, they could be saying it just to try to make us feel better, but in really things are not ok;
OR they could be telling the truth: that, despite the cold rugged reality out there, there is another reality, a deeper, truer reality, where things are ok, because we are safe in the arms of Someone who loves us more than anything... Just like the times Roger held his little sweetie in his father arms of love.
As we look out on the world, and as we feel the pain in our own lives, we might want to cry out, express the rage, the deep angst that lies beneath the surface in each one of us... I think that's what happens in some of music Roger was into. Does it help the immerse yourself in the rage, the pain, the meaningless of it all? No, it doesn't help.
Where can we go for peace?
Well, we need to go to our Father's arms of love.
Jesus said, "Trust God: Trust me."
"There are many rooms in my Father's house," he said, "And those rooms are for you."
We all want a place of our own. A place that's just right for us. Jesus came to offer us a place with Him... a place as lovely for us, as Breanna had, in Roger's arms.
For a time we may be able to provide a place in our lives, for our loved ones. In our relationships we can offer a place for them to feel safe, loved, accepted.
The sad thing is that, because none of us is perfect, we can't meet the deepest needs of our loved ones, and sooner or later, we all must leave this life...
But Jesus came to give us a place of security that will never be taken away from us.
What is this? It's a brand new relationship with God as our perfect, loving Father.
This is where we can all find peace. Unshakeable peace.
This is where we will hear the words of our loving Father, words that come to us through Jesus, words that tell us,
"It's going to be all right. Trust me, and don't be troubled."
How do we find this place of security, this new relationship with God that we need more than anything, especially at a time like this?
Jesus tells us, gently, "It's by believing in me."
He says, "I am the way, the truth and the life. You can all come to the Father through me."
There isn't any other way.
This requires humility, and honesty.
We need to fall on our needs, and tell God, "I can't cope on my own! I don't have what it takes to find peace for myself, and I can't give others the perfect love they need, as well."
God knows us as we are. He understands us.
And he's done something about those things in our lives that we're not proud of.
Things we may have regretted saying or doing - with Roger, or with anyone else.
Things we failed to do.
As the psalm we read tells us, so amazingly, so wonderfully:
"There is forgiveness with You, God."
Our Father forgives us, and it involved giving up his son into death, to save us from our sins, so that, by believing in him, we can be saved from ultimate death.
Jesus' death has bought each of us a place in our Father's home: its a place specially prepared for us - just as he personally prepared Roger's place for him.
There is so much sadness, so much trouble in this world.
Jesus says, "Don't be troubled. Trust in God, and believe in me."
They aren't just hopeful words, attempting to comfort us, but words based on the reality of God's saving love.
In the midst of our tears, our grief, our bewilderment, let's find our place in the arms of our loving heavenly Father, and receive the peace that comes from trusting Him.
Maybe today it's just too hard take it all in, but I pray in time, you will receive the comfort of God's love, and hear his gentle whisper, "It's going to be ok."
Amen.