From Rev. Jeff Tacklind at Mark’s burial, Rosecrans National Cemetary.

ROSTRUM

WELCOME

I would like to welcome you all here today and to express how honored I am to stand with you all in recognition of Mark Metherell, an extraordinary man who lived a life of incredible significance.  It is an honor to commemorate a moment such as this with family of such depth of character, commitment, and love, and with soldiers of such stature and nobility, and to celebrate together a life so worthy of being celebrated.

Proverbs 1:5 says that wisdom rests quietly in the heart of a man of understanding…and Mark was truly such a man. 

Hugh Ross, a friend of the Metherells, and a brilliant astrophysicist, once said that when he was testing his students, if he observed one that was clearly demonstrating that he understood the material on the test, he would simply take the test away and give the student an A.  Hugh said that he believes that sometimes God does the same thing.

If there is anyone I can think of that deserves such a grade, it is Mark. He exhibited an incredible inner strength and depth of character.  He was a man who believed whole-heartedly in the purposes for which he gave his life.  And he lived fully and completely in every moment.

His obituary states, that Mark was killed in Baghdad in the early hours of Friday, April 11, 2008. Mark served his country with a deep love for his work and a passionate commitment to the ideals he supported.

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

Mark was a man who loved greatly.  He deeply loved his family, his friends, his country, his teammates, his beloved wife Sarah, in whom he was always completely infatuated, and most of all, his God whom we served, sacrificially and with his whole heart.

Mark has been repeatedly described as a warrior poet.  He was a phenomenal story teller, and a lover of words.  He loved liturgy for its beauty, reverence, and depth.  I have chosen some readings today that I believe Mark would have wanted read on such an occasion.

INVOCATION

I would like to begin by reading the Apostle’s creed.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

SCRIPTURE AND SERVICE

I also thought it would also be befitting to read a Psalm that Sarah would prayer when Mark was away.
Psalm 91 says,
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

In Jesus’ parable of the talents, the Master affirms and rewards the servants who are faithful with the talents they were given.  To the wise servants who increased their talents, the Master said, “Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things’ I will put you in charge of many things.”

Mark was faithful til the very end.  His death has left an enormous void, but one that many, many are clamoring to fill.  It has been incredible to watch the commissioning that has taken place in so many lives as the result of his passing.  But I have every confidence that his presence in heaven has had as profound an impact there, and that Mark has simply gone on to a greater assignment and a greater glory as he co-reigns with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

BENEDICTION

As we close, let us pray the Lord’s prayer together. 

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

COMMITTAL

SCRIPTURE AND PRAYER

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Corinthians 15:51-55, 57
51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”
55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”
57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Prayer of Comfort from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant to us who are still in our pilgrimage, and who walk as
yet by faith, that thy Holy Spirit may lead us in holiness and
righteousness all our days. Amen.

Grant to thy faithful people pardon and peace, that we may
be cleansed from all our sins, and serve thee with a quiet
mind. Amen.

Grant to all who mourn a sure confidence in thy fatherly
care, that, casting all their grief on thee, they may know the
consolation of thy love. Amen.

Give courage and faith to those who are bereaved, that they
may have strength to meet the days ahead in the comfort of a
reasonable and holy hope, in the joyful expectation of eternal
life with those they love. Amen.

Help us, we pray, in the midst of things we cannot understand,
to believe and trust in the communion of saints, the forgiveness
of sins, and the resurrection to life everlasting. Amen.

Grant us grace to entrust Mark to thy never-failing love; receive
him into the arms of thy mercy, and remember him according
to the favor which thou bearest unto thy people. Amen.

Grant that, increasing in knowledge and love of thee, he may
go from strength to strength in the life of perfect service in
thy heavenly kingdom. Amen.

Grant us, with all who have died in the hope of the
resurrection, to have our consummation and bliss in thy
eternal and everlasting glory, and, with [blessed Mark and]
all thy saints, to receive the crown of life which thou dost
promise to all who share in the victory of thy Son Jesus
Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy
Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION
Numbers 6:24-26
24 “ ‘ “The LORD bless you
and keep you;
25 the LORD make his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you;
26 the LORD turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” ‘
Amen.