MATTHEW TEMPLE HOMILY 2022

 When I get high, I get high on speed. This opening lyric of Motley Crue’s hit Kickstart My Heart says so much about Matt: he loved the speed of dirt bikes and Harleys, he shared his heart with so many of you that I believe when he saw you, bowled with you, coached with you, grew up with you, watched Joe Montana play football with you, his heart---that muscle which gave him so much trouble his whole life-- was kick-started. Because for a man with a so-called weak heart, his was stronger than most.
It's what makes this death—a death that, in truth, wasn’t as surprising as it felt—so hard to accept. How does a heart that loved so well, a hearth that held and endured so much, stop? Well I am not sure it has stopped…sure it stopped beating in Matt’s body, but it hasn’t stopped in Krissy’s, it hasn’t stopped in Aunt Kathy’s or cousin Danny’s or yours or yours or yours. Matt’s heart beats on. Hold onto that.

On the last page of the bulletin for this morning (page 12) is a statement about the theology of death held by the Episcopal Church. In part it says
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection.  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.
We find all the meaning of life—even the end of our earthly life-- in the resurrection…that dwelling on the end is not our calling, but rather we dwell on the continuation of life. We live our lives fully. Knowing that when our earthly life has ended, our true life is simply changed. Somehow, as I was reflecting on this the other night while I wrote this homily, I thought it fit Matt. You see, I didn’t know Matt, bit in speaking with Kristen and Kathy they told me a lot about Matt and one story really stuck with me:
As Matt was weakening and the nurses were anxious to call Kristen, Matt kept telling them, “don’t worry, she will be here.” For Matt  wasn’t concerned about what might not be, he simply believed in what was going to be: he knew Kris would be there and so why worry? This, folks is faith. Faith that things will be ok, faith that trusting that what has been –Kris’s devotion to her brother (and his to her) was something that he could count on. Always.
In today’s Gospel reading the apostle Thomas doubts that he will be able to find the way to eternal life, he pleads with Jesus—How can we know the way? Jesus replies, you know the way, because you know me and I am the way, the truth and the life. Jesus wasn’t stressed, he wasn’t worried. Thomas on the other hand was kind of freaking out. So this is what I say to you who really don’t know how to get through this life without Matt— how will you keep bowling? How will you talk football (you know, like how Joe Montana was the best to ever play the game), hear a Harley coming, watch Godiva the chocolate lab mis her Matt—how will you ever do this all without Matt?
You will. And you won’t. You will because this earthly life continues for you and somehow you will endure this loss and even find joy again.
And you won’t because Matt’s influence on you and the world around him did not die when that wondrous heart of his ceased to beat because in death life is not ended, but simply changed. His light and his life will not be forgotten, his quiet courage, his speaking of the truth, his protection of his baby sister, his love for his precious aunt, cousins and friends has not and will not die. Why? Because we are people of the resurrection, people of the Way the Truth and the Life.
Matthew William Temple, rest well good and faithful servant, those who love you will carry on, knowing that when needed you will, somehow and someway, kickstart them back into this life he loved so much. Rest well, Matt. Amen.