Homily for the Funeral of Emmett Bergman, August 26, 2006 at St. Mary’s Parish, St. Benedict, KS

Homily for the Funeral of Emmett Bergman, August 26, 2006 at St. Mary’s Parish, St. Benedict, KS

Over the years since I first met Emmett and, of course, Hilda, there were times when I wondered if I would be in this Church doing what I am trying to do now, for my friend, Emmett. There were times in my life here when I wondered if Emmett would be attending my own Mass of Christian Burial. When we were able to celebrate the Golden Anniversary of the marriage of Hilda and Emmett I felt that a milestone was reached and that any more years would simply be pure gift. They were a gift and a hard road to travel at times. Hilda and Emmett walked that path together. Last Wednesday, the Master returned to call his faithful servant, Emmett, home where there was a place reserved with food and drink to satisfy. It was an hour unexpected but the invitation to the banquet was extended years ago in this very church.

When I first arrived at St. Benedict with my bike I would ride around the village that I found was not the busiest place in Nemaha County. The action was confined to the Bergman Furniture store and to the Bergman Repair shop. It was not long until I made it an almost daily stop for talk and later, pickles, summer sausage, cheese, assorted beverages, fruit. The pickled herring was my favorite! There were assorted characters that came into the shop from time to time, sons, sons-in-law, and characters of all kinds. In 1949 I had heard of a great baseball player by the name of Juni Sudbeck. I finally met him in Emmett’s shop. I found out later that he had two brothers who were equally good. When my bike had a flat or other troubles, Emmett fixed the problem. For the very first St. Isidore celebration he drove a couple of his rebuilt tractors to the parish grounds for display. Once he built a model of a steam tractor out of a concept in his mind without any kind of plan. Emmett was a mechanical genius.

We fished. I was able to introduce him to the Hog Trough at Lake Perry. We had great times at Centralia Lake and at Iron Horse. If Hilda, Emmett, and I were out fishing there was no question of who caught the most fish. It was Hilda. We had great times, great lunches.

Later today we will celebrate the wedding of Garrett Ruby and Amy Bergman. How fitting this scenario really is. How human! How like life! To leave life we have to enter it first. We have no choice. We slip into this human family for better or for worse. All of what we experience as human beings is a part of the death and Resurrection cycle. We are born to die to rise. Farmers know this better than most people. Seeds die to become soybeans. Jesus died and rose that we might have life. We say goodbye to our friend, Emmett and say ”Hello” to Garrett and Amy. The drama of life passes before our eyes every day if we open our eyes and hearts to reality. This is, as it ought to be.

We want to be prepared for the Master’s coming. How shall we do that? By welcoming the same Master in each and every human being that comes into our lives each and every moment we have. Emmett welcomed a stranger into his shop and heart. Hilda and their children welcome me yet. The memories will literally live forever, as will we all meet again where every tear will be wiped away.