Rev. Francis Gail Marshall
The good shepherd lays down her life, for her sheep. I go to prepare a place with you, so that where I am you may be also. Both of which first and foremost describe our Lord, but are also invitations to us to do that same work in this world. Gail heard that call on her own life and responded by becoming a deacon. A deacon is a servant in the church charged with teaching, serving, and praying, especially to those in need.
Gail was a deacon in this church for more than 20 years. I will admit that I really never got to see her physically at that work, Stephen could say more about that but I did get to see how that work continued even after she was not physically able to do it. I saw her devotion to the church, her care for others, and her love of the sacraments, and I know even if I couldn’t always see it that she had a strong relationship with God in prayer and in her daily life.
This in itself is a testament to her work and faith. When things don’t go our way. When we can’t do all that we want to. When we have to depend on another. Each of these challenges our faith, devotion, and commitment. Gail’s faith held on strong.
She knew that the same Lord who called her to serve the church in beautiful and self-sacrificial ways is the same Lord that had already been doing this work of self-sacrificial love for her and you long before. She knew who she was following and what that meant, even in the hard times, especially in the hard times.
It was the hard times when God shows himself most obviously. That passage where Jesus says “I am going to prepare a place for you”, is the same night that he knowingly walks into his arrest, which would lead to his death on the cross. So, what Jesus is saying to us at this moment is I am willingly going to suffer and die so that I might make you a new home, a far better one with my Father and me. Jesus is that good shepherd that dies to protect us from the wolves, from the evil in this world. But he is also the great shepherd that dies to lead us back into his protected fold, that dies to lead us to greener pastures, that dies to overcome everything that leads us astray. He dies so that he might offer us life.
Gail knew this and brought it into her struggles.
We can’t claim that Gail’s death was the same as Jesus’ but in her work, sacrifice, and faith, that points us toward Jesus, it can do a similar thing in us. We can see where she was pointing, we can see the love she shared and knew, we can see her faith through all times and follow it to a new life for us too. We can meet in her the good shepherd and follow him towards the home and family just for us.
When I first met Cathy and Gail this was actually what stuck out to me about what they did for one another. Throughout the years, I have heard many stories about how Gail’s family had practically adopted Cathy, or how they became roommates and friends. They created home and family for one another and would happily do it for others as well. Then as Gail became weaker, Cathy did the same thing, in a different way for Gail. They had the opportunity to live in the image of the Good Shepherd in so many beautiful ways.
I hope that this witness will point the way for you to meet, know and follow that good shepherd and if you are already there I hope you might also learn from them how to become like our good shepherd. In weakness, suffering, and death the Christian walk is not an easy road, but it is one of joy, home, and family. I have experienced this and I know Gail had too and know we hope the same for you. AMEN
