Requiem: Eric Wolterstorff in Memoriam

By Cary Ratcliff

Given on May 18^th, 1986

Part 1

Truly terrible is the mystery of death.

I lament at the sight of beauty

created for us in the image of God

which lies now in the grave

without shape, without glory,

without consideration.

What is this mystery that surrounds us?

Why are we delivered up into decay?

Why are we bound to death?

John of Damascus

There is hope for a tree if it be cut down,

that it will sprout again.

And its shoots not cease.

But we die and disappear.

We breath our last and where are we?

Job 14

Never again do we return home.

Our dwelling place knows us no more.

Job 7

Part 2

Like an bird alone in the desert

or an owl in a ruined house

I lie awake and groan,

like a sparrow lost on a roof

Ashes are the bread I eat,

I mingle tears with my drink.

Psalm 102

From the depths I cry to you, oh Lord,

give head to my lament.

Psalm 140

Does the grave declare your great love?

Is your truth proclaimed in the tombs?

Are your wonders admired in the dark

or your mercy where all is forgotten?

Psalm 88

Why do you turn away?

Why do you hide your face?

I wait for you, my soul waits,

and in your word I have hope.

Psalm 130

Restore me oh God my savior.

Psalm 85

Part 3

In all our afflictions he is afflicted,

and the angel of his presence saves us;

in his love and pity he redeems us,

he lifts us up and carries us all our days.

Isaiah 63:9

He bears our grief

and carries our sorrows;

by his wounds we are healed.

Isaiah 53:4,5

Part 4

In my beginning is my end

In my end is my beginning

TS Elliot

O lord, you have fathomed and known me:

you know when I sit down or stand  

you created my inmost thoughts

as you wove me within the womb \.

You saw me before I was born,

My days were inscribed in your book;

They were all formed and set

Before a single one came to be.

Psalm 139

My heart is not proud,

My eyes are not haughty;

I am not intent on great things

Nor achievements sublime.

My soul lies at rest

As quiet as a child;

My soul is as still as a babe

At its mother’s breast.

Psalm 131

I depart in peace

For my eyes have seen your salvation .

You have shown me the path of life.

In you presence there is fullness of joy,

In your right hand are pleasures forever more.

Psalm 16

In justice I go to behold your face;

I shall find joy in your likeness when I awake.

Psalm 17

Part 5

Ours days are like grass;

we flourish like flowers of the field;

the wind passes over us and we are gone,

and our place knows us no more.

But the steadfast love of the Lord abides

forever.

Psalm 103

Though the fig trees do not blossom

nor fruit be on the vine;

the produce of the olive fail

and the field yields no more food;

though the flock be cut of from the fold

and there be no food in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Habakkaku 3

Part  6

We have seen a great mystery:

We shall all be changed.

We shall all be raised in Christ

as we were buried in Christ.

Death is swallowed up in victory.

The dwelling of God will be with his people.

God will wipe every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more.

There shall be no mourning, no crying nor

pain;

sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

For the old things are disappearing.

Revelation 21

The poor will be raised from the dust,

the sorrowing, lifted up from their ashes.

Song of Hannah

Those who sowed in tears

shall reap in songs of joy.

Psalm 126

For the word of the Lord is peace.

Psalm 85

“Behold, I am making all things new.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,

the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 21