A Life Of Service To Others
Sermon
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
For a very giving person
A Life Of Service To Others
Daniel 12:1-3; Romans 8:31-35, 37-39; Matthew 25:31-46
Once upon a time a bowl was born. It was not much of a birth -- no long months of planning and no great anticipation, no patient shaping under loving hands. Scarcely a thought went into the creation of Mr. Bowl. The quick impersonal movement of a few machines and a trip through a hot oven was all it took for him to be created. There was really nothing to look at, no warmth and no beauty. Mr. Bowl was shipped off to a store to be sold.
One day this bowl was purchased, not because he was beautiful, but simply because he was cheap and would serve a purpose. And the bowl did that very well. Meal after meal and day after day Mr. Bowl faithfully served, for this was his calling in life -- namely to be a simple bowl. Sometimes, after meals, Mr. Bowl sat around a long time waiting to be cleaned. By the time it came for him to be washed, the water was rather dirty and cold; it was a very unpleasant experience. The girl who washed the bowl mumbled and grumbled at her unpleasant chore. Yet, through it all, the bowl was basically happy as he was able to serve, day after day, year and year.
Then one day Mr. Bowl's mistress walked in with a shiny, new bowl. It had a lovely floral design. She said, "You will serve us well and be pleasant to look at as well." So the first bowl was packed up, along with a few other discarded items and sent away. It was a long journey and rather boring so Mr. Bowl slept through most of the trip. When he awoke, Mr. Bowl found himself in unfamiliar, but loving hands. He was plunged into some nice, sudsy, warm water and given a good bath. For the first time in his life, the bowl enjoyed it; it was very refreshing. The boy who was washing Mr. Bowl did not seem to mind as he was humming a merry tune the entire time. Then the bowl was taken to a nice, log building, a gift shop, and placed on one of the shelves, waiting to be sold. Everything in this shop was donated and all the money in sales went to assist the poor. When Mr. Bowl learned this, he became quite excited. The bowl really wanted to help someone and thus he waited his chance, but nobody was willing to buy him.
Yes, no one seemed to look twice in his direction. Mr. Bowl was so plain and ordinary, lacking the most elementary charm, while many other items in the shop were so beautiful. The vase next to him was truly exquisite. It was clear that much time and energy had been put into her creation. Certainly, loving hands had created this beautiful vase. It was not long at all before the vase was sold. A little dancing figurine was on the bowl's other side. This, too, sold in quick fashion. But the ordinary and plain bowl was repeatedly overlooked and, thus, he gave up hope of being sold quickly. He settled into the life of the shop. He was cared for, regularly dusted, and even given a warm bath periodically. He was content with this life for a while.
After a few years, however, this forced retirement began to wear on the bowl. He was born to serve and knew in his heart it was time to get to his vocation. Still he waited. Then one day, he heard the owners of the shop speaking about a boy who needed a wheelchair but his family had no money to purchase one. Thus, all the monies from sales this day would go to the family. The bowl was very excited for it hoped that now was his chance to again serve, but what could he do; no one ever noticed him. Then he heard a woman walking toward him. She looked right at him, smiled and said, "This is precisely what I want. You are lovely and will do a fine job of serving my family." The bowl was overjoyed. He had never been called lovely before -- servant, yes, but not lovely.
The woman picked him up and took him to the counter to pay and as she did the bowl passed by a mirror. He was amazed for he truly was lovely. He was much the same, yet different. It was the same plain design, but he sparkled; indeed, he was radiant. He had never looked that way before. The bowl began to realize what had happened. All the love of those in the shop over the years, who had dusted and washed him had clung to him and he had been subtly transformed. Not only now could he serve and realize his dream, but he would give delight by his presence as well.1
All Mr. Bowl wanted in life was to serve others, a basic tenet of the Christian life of discipleship. Yet, he learned that being a servant created many ups and downs, highs and lows in one's life. In other words service brings both beauty and the cross. I believe this story presents a wonderful metaphor as we celebrate the eternal life of a woman who truly gave from her heart. Grace was a shining star -- one who gave direction to others. She understood what the prophet Daniel stated, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." We are grateful to God for her life; we must rejoice that she now lives with God in eternity.
Grace truly was a woman who gave. She understood very well the instruction Jesus gave to his disciples concerning what was important in life. Jesus clearly tells us in today's gospel that our salvation is predicate on our ability to serve and be present to others. Grace was always doing something for others. In many ways this defined her life of faith. The principle recipient of that care was her loving family assembled here this morning. A long and wonderful marriage to Jimmy, mother to Anthony and Bernadette, and grandmother to Quinn and Felicia -- these were the greatest manifestations of her love for others. She might have shown this through a great meal, long conversations at special holidays, or simply being present at the most joyful and saddest moments in your lives. Whatever the time or occasion, Grace was there. Her love for others reached out to her friends, with whom she spent quality time on trips and quantity time in conversation. Her love for others was shown in her dedication to her work, whether that was keeping the books for the family construction company or working for Lord and Taylor. She expressed her love for others, including God, by making the most of her gifts, including her ability to "cut a rug" on the dance floor. She kept active, not wasting time, but using her ability productively, always thinking of others first. Yes, Grace understood what Jesus meant when he said, when you do these things for others you do them for me.
Grace was an interior woman, especially in her relationship with God. She understood what Saint Paul wrote as we heard proclaimed in today's second reading, that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Thus, while she, like all of us, was forced to suffer many trials, including a premature death from a horrible disease, she persevered because she knew for certain that God was her refuge and strength. She overcame the obstacles and hurdles -- the tares of weeds of life -- and found renewed strength from her trials. Thus, because she never gave up and always believed, we can be certain that Grace rests with God for all eternity.
Death is never easy, but our Christian faith teaches us that death is only the beginning of the eternal life that is God's promise to all who believe. Thus, despite our heavy hearts, let us take the attitude of that little bowl, one of service to others, the same attitude that Grace demonstrated. If we can, then when God calls us, we will hear the words which Grace has already heard, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34b). Amen.
-- Richard Gribble, CSC
____________
1. Paraphrased from "Born to Serve," in Jude Fischer, Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old (Combermere, Ontario, Canada: Madonna House, 1996), pp. 23-27.
A Life Of Service To Others
Daniel 12:1-3; Romans 8:31-35, 37-39; Matthew 25:31-46
Once upon a time a bowl was born. It was not much of a birth -- no long months of planning and no great anticipation, no patient shaping under loving hands. Scarcely a thought went into the creation of Mr. Bowl. The quick impersonal movement of a few machines and a trip through a hot oven was all it took for him to be created. There was really nothing to look at, no warmth and no beauty. Mr. Bowl was shipped off to a store to be sold.
One day this bowl was purchased, not because he was beautiful, but simply because he was cheap and would serve a purpose. And the bowl did that very well. Meal after meal and day after day Mr. Bowl faithfully served, for this was his calling in life -- namely to be a simple bowl. Sometimes, after meals, Mr. Bowl sat around a long time waiting to be cleaned. By the time it came for him to be washed, the water was rather dirty and cold; it was a very unpleasant experience. The girl who washed the bowl mumbled and grumbled at her unpleasant chore. Yet, through it all, the bowl was basically happy as he was able to serve, day after day, year and year.
Then one day Mr. Bowl's mistress walked in with a shiny, new bowl. It had a lovely floral design. She said, "You will serve us well and be pleasant to look at as well." So the first bowl was packed up, along with a few other discarded items and sent away. It was a long journey and rather boring so Mr. Bowl slept through most of the trip. When he awoke, Mr. Bowl found himself in unfamiliar, but loving hands. He was plunged into some nice, sudsy, warm water and given a good bath. For the first time in his life, the bowl enjoyed it; it was very refreshing. The boy who was washing Mr. Bowl did not seem to mind as he was humming a merry tune the entire time. Then the bowl was taken to a nice, log building, a gift shop, and placed on one of the shelves, waiting to be sold. Everything in this shop was donated and all the money in sales went to assist the poor. When Mr. Bowl learned this, he became quite excited. The bowl really wanted to help someone and thus he waited his chance, but nobody was willing to buy him.
Yes, no one seemed to look twice in his direction. Mr. Bowl was so plain and ordinary, lacking the most elementary charm, while many other items in the shop were so beautiful. The vase next to him was truly exquisite. It was clear that much time and energy had been put into her creation. Certainly, loving hands had created this beautiful vase. It was not long at all before the vase was sold. A little dancing figurine was on the bowl's other side. This, too, sold in quick fashion. But the ordinary and plain bowl was repeatedly overlooked and, thus, he gave up hope of being sold quickly. He settled into the life of the shop. He was cared for, regularly dusted, and even given a warm bath periodically. He was content with this life for a while.
After a few years, however, this forced retirement began to wear on the bowl. He was born to serve and knew in his heart it was time to get to his vocation. Still he waited. Then one day, he heard the owners of the shop speaking about a boy who needed a wheelchair but his family had no money to purchase one. Thus, all the monies from sales this day would go to the family. The bowl was very excited for it hoped that now was his chance to again serve, but what could he do; no one ever noticed him. Then he heard a woman walking toward him. She looked right at him, smiled and said, "This is precisely what I want. You are lovely and will do a fine job of serving my family." The bowl was overjoyed. He had never been called lovely before -- servant, yes, but not lovely.
The woman picked him up and took him to the counter to pay and as she did the bowl passed by a mirror. He was amazed for he truly was lovely. He was much the same, yet different. It was the same plain design, but he sparkled; indeed, he was radiant. He had never looked that way before. The bowl began to realize what had happened. All the love of those in the shop over the years, who had dusted and washed him had clung to him and he had been subtly transformed. Not only now could he serve and realize his dream, but he would give delight by his presence as well.1
All Mr. Bowl wanted in life was to serve others, a basic tenet of the Christian life of discipleship. Yet, he learned that being a servant created many ups and downs, highs and lows in one's life. In other words service brings both beauty and the cross. I believe this story presents a wonderful metaphor as we celebrate the eternal life of a woman who truly gave from her heart. Grace was a shining star -- one who gave direction to others. She understood what the prophet Daniel stated, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever." We are grateful to God for her life; we must rejoice that she now lives with God in eternity.
Grace truly was a woman who gave. She understood very well the instruction Jesus gave to his disciples concerning what was important in life. Jesus clearly tells us in today's gospel that our salvation is predicate on our ability to serve and be present to others. Grace was always doing something for others. In many ways this defined her life of faith. The principle recipient of that care was her loving family assembled here this morning. A long and wonderful marriage to Jimmy, mother to Anthony and Bernadette, and grandmother to Quinn and Felicia -- these were the greatest manifestations of her love for others. She might have shown this through a great meal, long conversations at special holidays, or simply being present at the most joyful and saddest moments in your lives. Whatever the time or occasion, Grace was there. Her love for others reached out to her friends, with whom she spent quality time on trips and quantity time in conversation. Her love for others was shown in her dedication to her work, whether that was keeping the books for the family construction company or working for Lord and Taylor. She expressed her love for others, including God, by making the most of her gifts, including her ability to "cut a rug" on the dance floor. She kept active, not wasting time, but using her ability productively, always thinking of others first. Yes, Grace understood what Jesus meant when he said, when you do these things for others you do them for me.
Grace was an interior woman, especially in her relationship with God. She understood what Saint Paul wrote as we heard proclaimed in today's second reading, that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. Thus, while she, like all of us, was forced to suffer many trials, including a premature death from a horrible disease, she persevered because she knew for certain that God was her refuge and strength. She overcame the obstacles and hurdles -- the tares of weeds of life -- and found renewed strength from her trials. Thus, because she never gave up and always believed, we can be certain that Grace rests with God for all eternity.
Death is never easy, but our Christian faith teaches us that death is only the beginning of the eternal life that is God's promise to all who believe. Thus, despite our heavy hearts, let us take the attitude of that little bowl, one of service to others, the same attitude that Grace demonstrated. If we can, then when God calls us, we will hear the words which Grace has already heard, "Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world" (Matthew 25:34b). Amen.
-- Richard Gribble, CSC
____________
1. Paraphrased from "Born to Serve," in Jude Fischer, Be Always Little: Christian Fables for Young and Old (Combermere, Ontario, Canada: Madonna House, 1996), pp. 23-27.
