Dennis Roy Alexander Gilmour Graveside Sermon – Genesis 27:1–4 December 13th 2025 / Life in the Crosshairs

Dennis Roy Alexander Gilmour Graveside Sermon / Immanuel Frankslake Lutheran Church Cemetery / Pr. Ted A. Giese / Saturday December 13th 2025: Season of Advent / Genesis 27:1–4 “Life in the Crosshairs”

“When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt wild game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.”

Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in Your sight O Lord. Amen.

Grace peace and mercy to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Good Christian Friends and family of Dennis Gilmour in the Bible in the book of Proverbs Wise King Solomon taught his sons that “the lazy do not roast any wild game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.”[1] And in the book of Genesis we are told that “When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau his older son and said to him, “My son”; and he answered, “Here I am.” He said, “Behold, I am old; I do not know the day of my death. Now then, take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt wild game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love, and bring it to me so that I may eat, that my soul may bless you before I die.” Esau didn’t get the blessing of the birthright, his brother Jacob did. Family is complicated. God knows what He’s doing; we are simply called to live our lives as we are called to live them out. We often see exactly how we are to live that life, it’s right there in our cross-hairs, but as we pull the trigger we can easily miss the mark.  

The old man Isaac was not able to hunt anymore, not due to laziness but due to age and infirmities. His desire was for a delicious meal of wild game brought to him by his son the hunter. Dennis loved hunting, and this graveyard where we lay him to rest is one of the areas he loved hunting in. His pallbearers are fellow hunters and while the thrill of the hunt is one part of hunting, it is ultimately the ability to provide for ourselves and others that’s the point of hunting. When Isaac says to Esau, “go out to the field and hunt wild game for me, and prepare for me delicious food, such as I love,” this points to a meal that was to come, one prepared at the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion at Mount Golgotha. Jesus went to the cross to prepare a place for us, a place at His table, where we receive the blessed meal that gives us peace. We have a foretaste of that feast in Holy Communion.

There’s another spot in the Old Testament that points to this everlasting meal where the prophet Isaiah delivers this promise from God,

“On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make

for all peoples a feast of rich food,

a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow,

of aged wine well refined.

And He will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of His people

He will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken.”[2]

When the hunt is over and we are sat down at the eternal table of the LORD and the meal that is prepared for us is served, we do not justify our spot at the table by the life we have lived, or by our accomplishments, and we are not called to make excuses for our failures, we are simply to trust in Christ, and hold fast to His forgiveness, for He wins us our seat at the table, He forgives all that we would make excuses for, and He has prepared for you delicious food, such as you love, in which you are blessed.

Dear ones, on The Last Day, Dennis in Christ will stand here where we are now laying him to rest, as one made new with all he hunted for in this life — all which was and is and ever shall be God pleasing — in his hand. Our aim is not always sure, we miss the mark, Christ Jesus’ aim is sure, He never missed the mark, not even once; He is the one who aims at our salvation and brings home what He aims for. Living life in His crosshairs is not a terror for we are the apple of His eye; yes, He hides you in the shadow of His wings.[3] The crosshairs of His crucifixion brought Him death but brings you life. His Easter Sunday resurrection from that death promises Dennis new life in Christ Jesus, and not just for Dennis, this promise is for you and yours. Amen.     

Let us pray: Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us, “take our minds and think through them, take our lips and speak through them, take our hearts and set them on fire; for the sake of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

[1] Proverbs 12:27
[2] Isaiah 25:6–8
[3] Psalm 17:8

Dennis R. A. Gilmour, late of Regina, SK, peacefully passed away on the evening of Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the age of 71 years. Predeceased by his parents, Roy and Katie; sisters, Beverley and Leeann; and granddaughter Haylie. Dennis is survived by his daughters, Krista, Danita and Lanatieshka; son Dennis; multiple grandchildren, his sisters and brother, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Photo Cretdits: Main Photo provided by Dennis Gilmour and Mount Olive Lutheran Church; photo of hunter at sun set from goodfon; Photo of painting of Jesus on the cross from rawpixel.