July 31, 2014
Thomas Anthony Resignalo
September 22, 1936 – July 12, 2014
Good morning, and grace and peace. It is very much for me an honor and a
privilege to share this morning in this service for Thomas Anthony Resignalo. To remember Tom’s life in all its richness,
to honor him for his life and service, to his family, husband, father, son, and
brother--his community, his country. And
an honor especially for me to share in the sorrow of loss with family and
friends, with all of you, family and
friends. As we offer together the
prayers of the church, not just as we say the words but as we gather the faith
and life and witness of the whole Christian family and offer the deepest
knowledge and desire of our hearts to almighty God. As we hear the words of scripture, the
psalms, the lessons, the Good News of Jesus Christ. Who as we turn to him has forgiven our sins,
and in his mercy and love and by his cross opened the way to the fullness of
life, and eternal life.
A friend in the 12 Step Movement years ago taught me this
saying: “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.” And for all kinds of reasons that phrase and
saying has come back to me over the past few weeks, and especially in my
thoughts and in my heart in those last days with Tom over at the VA
Hospital. I was remembering glimpses,
moments with Tom. Back in the 90’s,
almost 20 years ago now, an afternoon when he gave me and my son Daniel a tour
of the National Guard Armory over in East Liberty. A good deal of affection in that, his pride
in his work. After his own substantial
career in the armed forces, in the Marines, the Army, several tours in Viet
Nam, time in the National Guard, to continue in the service of those who serve. I remembered the time I spent with him and
with you, Patrick, when you were completing your God and Country scouting
project. All of us enjoying the Pirates
together—which I know was a great family passion and a very special Father/Son
experience. Even as a love for the
Pirates has for so many of past years been full of heartbreak! I was actually always so impressed with Tom
as a father and a husband, his sense of dedication, commitment, care. Again, “the main thing: to keep the main
thing the main thing.”
He was I think always what we might call a “Catholic at
heart,” the deep religious tradition of his younger years. His love of the sacraments. His sense of God’s presence in the midst of
everyday life. And I was and am so very
thankful for the ministry of the Roman Catholic pastoral staff at the VA and
for the generosity and hospitality of our friends over at St. Augustine’s in
Lawrenceville, with their recognition and support. Thinking of his love for his family here at
St. Andrew’s. Such a faithful presence
for so long, all three of you, in the life of this congregation. In the love of so many friendships over so
many years. One of my memories of these
past few weeks was of how Tom and Ann and Patrick were so faithful in that 7
a.m. service every Ash Wednesday morning, before school and work. And we are here this summer getting ready for
the annual festivities of the Church Picnic on Sunday after Labor Day,
remembering all those years when Round Up Sunday meant “Cowboy Tom’s Chili.” All fun.
Wonderful memories. Wrapping
around the challenges of these past years, which have been increasingly
difficult I know for everybody, and especially the last few months. As we’ve kept you all wrapped in our
prayers. And as we continue to hold you
in love and prayer.
So again Jesus: “Whither I go, ye know, and the way ye
know.” You know where I’m going, and you
know how to get there. Jesus is talking
to his disciples about something more than what we might call our religious
opinions and theories, our interpretations, our languages and cultures, theological
positions or understandings of various issues and concerns of the day. What Jesus is talking about is a deeper kind
of knowing than that. The kind of
knowing that we talk about when we say that a child knows his mother. It’s about relationship, connection. About the word we use in the Church with real
meaning and sincerity: about faith.
About being in relationship with God deeply and securely. “I go to prepare a place for you, that where
I am, there ye may be also . . . . I am
the way, the Truth, the Life. No man
cometh unto the Father but by me.”
Paul says in Romans 8 that no matter how great and powerful
the enemy may seem, we are “more than conquerors” through Christ our Lord. That no opponent can prevent the good work he
has done for us.
In the sure and certain hope of life in Christ Jesus, what
we all have to be about this morning, with all the sadness that there is—what
we all have to be about is to learn to live every day of this short and
precious life in the love of God and of one another, serving God and one
another, knowing that to be such a privilege.
Jesus said, in my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for
you. And if I go to prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and bring you to myself, that where I am, you may be
also.” “I am the resurrection and the
life, saith the Lord. He that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.”
Tom began his military service as a Marine, and they tell me
that there is no such thing as a “former Marine.” So it seems appropriate I think that we would
have the traditional Naval Hymn as our Office Hymn this morning. It is in part a prayer for those who serve,
and that prayer seems right, as a reflection of Tom’s life. But even more it is a hymn that calls our
attention to the Eternal Father who rules over all, with power and majesty, and
with the deepest compassion and tender love.
In whose hands we all live, day by day, and who promises at the end to
bring us home to himself. The main
thing: to keep the main thing the main thing.
Please stand, and let us sing together hymn #608, in the Blue Hymnal.
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