Service, Not Flash
Sermon
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
For one whose life was centered in Christ
Service, Not Flash
Job 19:23-27; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; John 14:1-6
In a vast field that stretched as far as the eye could see, a great multitude of people milled about waiting for something to happen. Quite unexpectedly a messenger came into the midst of the people and announced, "You are to walk around this field 25 times carrying a baton." The people were a bit mystified by these words and asked, "What will happen when we finish?" "You will learn the answer when you are done," came the reply. So the crowd ambled off to make its first lap of the field. As they walked they passed the baton amongst themselves. It took several hours at a leisurely pace to walk around the field, but they eventually made the circuit of the field the first time. This feat called for a celebration.
As the crowd celebrated they decided, just for the heck of it, to make the next lap more interesting. They broke into teams to race against each other. The task would not be so boring and winners and losers could be determined. This would transform a mundane task into fun-filled event. So the people separated themselves into five teams, the Reds, Yellows, Blacks, Browns, and Whites. There were some in the great multitude, however, who refused to join the teams. They called themselves "The Others" because they did something different than the teams. Strangely, it was The Others who were given the baton to carry, since the teams argued amongst themselves over which team should have it. The five teams, the Reds, Yellows, Blacks, Browns, and Whites took their marks and then took off at breakneck speed. The teams decided after that second circuit of the field, just for the heck of it, that they would station various members of each team at select sites around the field. In this way no one would have to run the whole distance but rather each would run a measured segment of the whole. Thus, the relay race was invented. As the five teams raced around the field in relays The Others simply continued on their way around the field. The teams thought The Others were "out of it."
The competition between the teams became more and more intense. Soon the racing teams realized that slow runners were a liability to the team's chances to win. They decided, therefore, that only the fast runners would compete. This, however, did not seem to satisfy those who were the best on each team, so it was decided, just for the heck of it, that each team would be represented by one individual and races would be held in measured distances. On one lap the representative of the Browns won and on another it was the Yellow team member who was victorious. Meanwhile, The Others continued to plod their way around the field, lap after lap after lap. When they completed all 25 laps they threw a celebration. When the messenger arrived in the midst of the party The Others asked, "You told us at the beginning that we would learn our reward when we finished. We have completed the 25 laps of the field, what will be get?" "Your reward," said the messenger, "is that you made it." The Others were stunned. "Is that all there is? We have made this long journey just to say we made it?" When The Others thought about their accomplishment, however, they had to agree that this was the reason they were celebrating -- because they had made it. "But what about the teams?" asked one of The Others, seeing that none of them were present. "The teams," said the messenger, "as you can see they didn't make it. And that's the heck of it!"1
Completing a task, making no attempt to gain personal glory, doing what is right simply because it is the right thing to do -- these are some of the important ideas brought to light by the thought-provoking story, "The Game." These are themes that describe the life of Mary whom we honor today.
Mary's whole life was one centered on her belief in Christ and the mission he gave her as wife to Red for 53 years, mother to Clare and John, and grandmother to thirteen. She understood well what Job says in today's first reading: "I know that my vindicator lives." As a woman of great faith, Mary understood that God had a special mission for her. It began to unfold eighty-plus years ago when she entered this world as a mere two-pound infant. Survival under such conditions in her day was rare, and therefore, she was certainly destined by God to live a special life that God would direct. Like "The Others" she was content to do what she was asked to do and never questioned or complained. On the contrary she rejoiced in being a housewife, to cook, clean, and do many things that were necessary to keep the house running while Red served as the chief bread winner. Mary was always helping others; she fought for the underdog. She babysat her grandchildren, but not without making certain her children took their responsibility as parents seriously. She often decorated cakes, but she never expected any recompense for her efforts. She was happy to help mentally challenged children on the local Stoughton school bus. She brought them the love and respect that society often fails to show those who are handicapped. Mary believed Jesus' words in today's gospel, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." Because she believed, because she was a woman of faith, we can be certain that she rests with God forever.
Death is so final or so it seems. We will not have the pleasure and fortune of seeing and conversing with Mary any longer. She will not be able to ply her skill and make her ceramics. Foxwoods has lost a customer. But while Mary is not physically with us, her spirit lives within us. Thus, inspired by her life we must do what is necessary to follow her lead. The Pauline author in his Second Letter to Timothy shows us the way: "The saying is sure: If we die with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:11-12). Let us have the courage to be like "The Others"; let us be like Mary. Let us do what God asks of us and seek no recompense, save the promise of eternal life which is God's promise to all who believe. Amen.
-- Richard Gribble, CSC
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Game," in John R. Aurelio, Colors! Stories of the Kingdom (New York: Crossroad, 1993), pp. 81-84.
Service, Not Flash
Job 19:23-27; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; John 14:1-6
In a vast field that stretched as far as the eye could see, a great multitude of people milled about waiting for something to happen. Quite unexpectedly a messenger came into the midst of the people and announced, "You are to walk around this field 25 times carrying a baton." The people were a bit mystified by these words and asked, "What will happen when we finish?" "You will learn the answer when you are done," came the reply. So the crowd ambled off to make its first lap of the field. As they walked they passed the baton amongst themselves. It took several hours at a leisurely pace to walk around the field, but they eventually made the circuit of the field the first time. This feat called for a celebration.
As the crowd celebrated they decided, just for the heck of it, to make the next lap more interesting. They broke into teams to race against each other. The task would not be so boring and winners and losers could be determined. This would transform a mundane task into fun-filled event. So the people separated themselves into five teams, the Reds, Yellows, Blacks, Browns, and Whites. There were some in the great multitude, however, who refused to join the teams. They called themselves "The Others" because they did something different than the teams. Strangely, it was The Others who were given the baton to carry, since the teams argued amongst themselves over which team should have it. The five teams, the Reds, Yellows, Blacks, Browns, and Whites took their marks and then took off at breakneck speed. The teams decided after that second circuit of the field, just for the heck of it, that they would station various members of each team at select sites around the field. In this way no one would have to run the whole distance but rather each would run a measured segment of the whole. Thus, the relay race was invented. As the five teams raced around the field in relays The Others simply continued on their way around the field. The teams thought The Others were "out of it."
The competition between the teams became more and more intense. Soon the racing teams realized that slow runners were a liability to the team's chances to win. They decided, therefore, that only the fast runners would compete. This, however, did not seem to satisfy those who were the best on each team, so it was decided, just for the heck of it, that each team would be represented by one individual and races would be held in measured distances. On one lap the representative of the Browns won and on another it was the Yellow team member who was victorious. Meanwhile, The Others continued to plod their way around the field, lap after lap after lap. When they completed all 25 laps they threw a celebration. When the messenger arrived in the midst of the party The Others asked, "You told us at the beginning that we would learn our reward when we finished. We have completed the 25 laps of the field, what will be get?" "Your reward," said the messenger, "is that you made it." The Others were stunned. "Is that all there is? We have made this long journey just to say we made it?" When The Others thought about their accomplishment, however, they had to agree that this was the reason they were celebrating -- because they had made it. "But what about the teams?" asked one of The Others, seeing that none of them were present. "The teams," said the messenger, "as you can see they didn't make it. And that's the heck of it!"1
Completing a task, making no attempt to gain personal glory, doing what is right simply because it is the right thing to do -- these are some of the important ideas brought to light by the thought-provoking story, "The Game." These are themes that describe the life of Mary whom we honor today.
Mary's whole life was one centered on her belief in Christ and the mission he gave her as wife to Red for 53 years, mother to Clare and John, and grandmother to thirteen. She understood well what Job says in today's first reading: "I know that my vindicator lives." As a woman of great faith, Mary understood that God had a special mission for her. It began to unfold eighty-plus years ago when she entered this world as a mere two-pound infant. Survival under such conditions in her day was rare, and therefore, she was certainly destined by God to live a special life that God would direct. Like "The Others" she was content to do what she was asked to do and never questioned or complained. On the contrary she rejoiced in being a housewife, to cook, clean, and do many things that were necessary to keep the house running while Red served as the chief bread winner. Mary was always helping others; she fought for the underdog. She babysat her grandchildren, but not without making certain her children took their responsibility as parents seriously. She often decorated cakes, but she never expected any recompense for her efforts. She was happy to help mentally challenged children on the local Stoughton school bus. She brought them the love and respect that society often fails to show those who are handicapped. Mary believed Jesus' words in today's gospel, "I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me." Because she believed, because she was a woman of faith, we can be certain that she rests with God forever.
Death is so final or so it seems. We will not have the pleasure and fortune of seeing and conversing with Mary any longer. She will not be able to ply her skill and make her ceramics. Foxwoods has lost a customer. But while Mary is not physically with us, her spirit lives within us. Thus, inspired by her life we must do what is necessary to follow her lead. The Pauline author in his Second Letter to Timothy shows us the way: "The saying is sure: If we die with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him" (2 Timothy 2:11-12). Let us have the courage to be like "The Others"; let us be like Mary. Let us do what God asks of us and seek no recompense, save the promise of eternal life which is God's promise to all who believe. Amen.
-- Richard Gribble, CSC
____________
1. Paraphrased from "The Game," in John R. Aurelio, Colors! Stories of the Kingdom (New York: Crossroad, 1993), pp. 81-84.
