A Simple But Profound Faith
Sermon
Life Everlasting
The Essential Book of Funeral Resources
Object:
For a quiet, faithful person
A Simple But Profound Faith
Wisdom 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Matthew 11:25-30
Once upon a time in a far-off land there lived a wise but very old king. This monarch was very much loved by his people, but unfortunately he had no children and, thus, no heir to the throne. Because he did not want his kingdom to fall into the wrong hands after his death, the king decided to choose his successor before he died. He had lived a long life and had done much reflection and, thus, he thought he knew what had gotten him to the position he held and more importantly what would get his kingdom where it needed to be in the future. Therefore, he made a public decree, promulgated throughout the land, that any person who thought himself qualified to be king should come to the capital city for an interview.
In a far-off village in that land, a young man heard about the decree and thought that he had the qualifications necessary to be king. He had good intelligence, was courageous, and understood the government. Unfortunately, the young man came from a poor family and, therefore, he did not have the resources of money, clothes, and food to make the trip to the capital city. His friends encouraged him, however, to set out telling him that all he needed would be provided on the trip. Therefore, he made ready and began the journey to the capital city to have his interview with the king. Along the way, he was amazed to find that his friends were correct; all was provided for him. He was able to find lodging and a good hot meal each night in the village where he would stop. One family gave him a little money for those unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Another family, seeing his shabby clothes, gave him a brand-new suit for his audience with the king.
After several days' journey, the young man reached a bridge which crossed over a mighty river which guarded the capital city on one side. As he was preparing to cross, a tired-looking old beggar came up to him and said, "Please, may I have the extra food you have? I live in the forest where food is hard to find. And, if possible, may I have that fine new jacket you have? It is quite cold in the forest, and as you can see I have no coat to wear." The young man thought to himself, "I have come all this way and now this old man asks something of me." After he had thought about it for a few minutes, however, he decided that the old man needed the things more than he did. Thus, he gave the old man his food and changed clothes with him seeing that he needed more than just a coat. Nevertheless, not to be deterred from his mission, the young man crossed the bridge and entered the capital city.
When he reached the house, he was told that the king was away and could not be seen until tomorrow. Thus, the young man waited outside the palace all night for his opportunity to see the king. The next day, the young man was ushered into the palace by one of the guards. They passed down a long and beautiful hallway and as they walked, the doors ahead of them opened into the king's throne room; he was holding court. When the young man looked up he was perplexed and somewhat confused for on the throne, now regally attired, was the same old man he had met on the bridge the previous day. The young man was angry and bewildered. "Why did you trick me?" asked the young man. "Why did you tell me you needed my food and clothes?" The king answered in a soft voice, "My son, I had heard from my royal officials that you were coming. You see, I do all of my interviews in the field. While people believe it is important to know the government and be smart, there is only one important qualification for this job, namely to love and respect others. You, my son, have passed the test, you will be the next king!"
The tale of the "Boy Who Would Be King" demonstrates what is truly important in life, namely that we need to care for others. It is a story which describes the life of our brother Jim, whose entry into eternal glory with God we celebrate this morning. Jim was a quiet man who went about his work at the Boston Gear Works in an unassuming manner. He was always well liked and he demonstrated love and appreciation for all who came his way -- that was the way Jim was. He was a man of commitment to his nine brothers and sisters and to his dear wife, Pam, who preceded him in death. Jim had lots of talents, including that of a great athlete. He might not have been Tiger Woods on the golf course or the great Red Sox catcher, Carlton Fisk, but his brother told me that he was a natural on the links and the baseball diamond. What is more important for us today, Jim was a man of simple faith. He, like all people, was tested by God along the road of life. Obstacles, road blocks, and a few detours met him, but he did not shy away, but realized that it is through meeting adversity head on and conquering it that we find the strength to persevere in the future. Yes, it is through such testing that he was honed, refined, and made better in God's sight, so that he enjoys forever the beatific vision, the opportunity to gaze upon God at any and all times. Jim understood the challenge given the Christian community by the famous British essayist, G. K. Chesterton in 1910: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."
Death in our society seems so final, but as people of faith we must celebrate for we believe that death is merely the doorway to the eternal life we have with the Lord. We cannot arrive at the destination we seek except through the doorway of death. But we should have no fear, for as the Pauline author told Timothy, "The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). The scriptures are God's Word and, thus, they are true. Therefore, we can have full confidence that since Jim believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he now rests with God forever.
Those who are left behind always have the more difficult road. Jim rests in eternal peace; the race has been completed and he has been victorious. We must, therefore, as Jesus tells us in Matthew's Gospel, come to the Lord with our burdens and lay them upon his shoulders. God is gentle and humble of heart; we will find rest in the embrace of Jesus. The Lord understands our pain and loss. Saint John (11:38) tells us that Jesus was "greatly disturbed" at the death of his friend Lazarus. With great compassion for Martha and Mary, he restored Lazarus to life, as he had done for the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) and the daughter of the synagogue leader, Jairus (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43).
We, God's holy people, gather to celebrate the life of a simple and humble man, one who through such gifts and characteristics demonstrated his goodness and faithfulness. May we who remain and mourn his loss be strengthened by the promise of God in today's scriptures and do our best to follow Jim's lead to our eternal rest with the Lord. If we can, all our rewards in heaven will be great.
A Simple But Profound Faith
Wisdom 3:1-9; 2 Timothy 2:8-13; Matthew 11:25-30
Once upon a time in a far-off land there lived a wise but very old king. This monarch was very much loved by his people, but unfortunately he had no children and, thus, no heir to the throne. Because he did not want his kingdom to fall into the wrong hands after his death, the king decided to choose his successor before he died. He had lived a long life and had done much reflection and, thus, he thought he knew what had gotten him to the position he held and more importantly what would get his kingdom where it needed to be in the future. Therefore, he made a public decree, promulgated throughout the land, that any person who thought himself qualified to be king should come to the capital city for an interview.
In a far-off village in that land, a young man heard about the decree and thought that he had the qualifications necessary to be king. He had good intelligence, was courageous, and understood the government. Unfortunately, the young man came from a poor family and, therefore, he did not have the resources of money, clothes, and food to make the trip to the capital city. His friends encouraged him, however, to set out telling him that all he needed would be provided on the trip. Therefore, he made ready and began the journey to the capital city to have his interview with the king. Along the way, he was amazed to find that his friends were correct; all was provided for him. He was able to find lodging and a good hot meal each night in the village where he would stop. One family gave him a little money for those unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Another family, seeing his shabby clothes, gave him a brand-new suit for his audience with the king.
After several days' journey, the young man reached a bridge which crossed over a mighty river which guarded the capital city on one side. As he was preparing to cross, a tired-looking old beggar came up to him and said, "Please, may I have the extra food you have? I live in the forest where food is hard to find. And, if possible, may I have that fine new jacket you have? It is quite cold in the forest, and as you can see I have no coat to wear." The young man thought to himself, "I have come all this way and now this old man asks something of me." After he had thought about it for a few minutes, however, he decided that the old man needed the things more than he did. Thus, he gave the old man his food and changed clothes with him seeing that he needed more than just a coat. Nevertheless, not to be deterred from his mission, the young man crossed the bridge and entered the capital city.
When he reached the house, he was told that the king was away and could not be seen until tomorrow. Thus, the young man waited outside the palace all night for his opportunity to see the king. The next day, the young man was ushered into the palace by one of the guards. They passed down a long and beautiful hallway and as they walked, the doors ahead of them opened into the king's throne room; he was holding court. When the young man looked up he was perplexed and somewhat confused for on the throne, now regally attired, was the same old man he had met on the bridge the previous day. The young man was angry and bewildered. "Why did you trick me?" asked the young man. "Why did you tell me you needed my food and clothes?" The king answered in a soft voice, "My son, I had heard from my royal officials that you were coming. You see, I do all of my interviews in the field. While people believe it is important to know the government and be smart, there is only one important qualification for this job, namely to love and respect others. You, my son, have passed the test, you will be the next king!"
The tale of the "Boy Who Would Be King" demonstrates what is truly important in life, namely that we need to care for others. It is a story which describes the life of our brother Jim, whose entry into eternal glory with God we celebrate this morning. Jim was a quiet man who went about his work at the Boston Gear Works in an unassuming manner. He was always well liked and he demonstrated love and appreciation for all who came his way -- that was the way Jim was. He was a man of commitment to his nine brothers and sisters and to his dear wife, Pam, who preceded him in death. Jim had lots of talents, including that of a great athlete. He might not have been Tiger Woods on the golf course or the great Red Sox catcher, Carlton Fisk, but his brother told me that he was a natural on the links and the baseball diamond. What is more important for us today, Jim was a man of simple faith. He, like all people, was tested by God along the road of life. Obstacles, road blocks, and a few detours met him, but he did not shy away, but realized that it is through meeting adversity head on and conquering it that we find the strength to persevere in the future. Yes, it is through such testing that he was honed, refined, and made better in God's sight, so that he enjoys forever the beatific vision, the opportunity to gaze upon God at any and all times. Jim understood the challenge given the Christian community by the famous British essayist, G. K. Chesterton in 1910: "The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried."
Death in our society seems so final, but as people of faith we must celebrate for we believe that death is merely the doorway to the eternal life we have with the Lord. We cannot arrive at the destination we seek except through the doorway of death. But we should have no fear, for as the Pauline author told Timothy, "The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful -- for he cannot deny himself" (2 Timothy 2:11-13). The scriptures are God's Word and, thus, they are true. Therefore, we can have full confidence that since Jim believed in Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he now rests with God forever.
Those who are left behind always have the more difficult road. Jim rests in eternal peace; the race has been completed and he has been victorious. We must, therefore, as Jesus tells us in Matthew's Gospel, come to the Lord with our burdens and lay them upon his shoulders. God is gentle and humble of heart; we will find rest in the embrace of Jesus. The Lord understands our pain and loss. Saint John (11:38) tells us that Jesus was "greatly disturbed" at the death of his friend Lazarus. With great compassion for Martha and Mary, he restored Lazarus to life, as he had done for the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) and the daughter of the synagogue leader, Jairus (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43).
We, God's holy people, gather to celebrate the life of a simple and humble man, one who through such gifts and characteristics demonstrated his goodness and faithfulness. May we who remain and mourn his loss be strengthened by the promise of God in today's scriptures and do our best to follow Jim's lead to our eternal rest with the Lord. If we can, all our rewards in heaven will be great.
