Innermost Truth

2011: Visiting with a centenarian at Christmas

For the final sermon in his 23-year career at our church, the rector played it straight.

He preached from today's lessons, excerpted below.

In 1 Kings God responds to the prayer of the young King Solomon:

God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.”

Romans 8:

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 13:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Our secular concerns of the moment are on the literal and metaphorical storms outside--COVID-19, civil protests, hurricanes--but the priest focused on the eternal. Quotes:

"What gives our lives meaning is purpose."
"Seeking the reign of God needs to be the purpose of our lives."
"Good is kindness, mercy, compassion, a forgiving heart, humility, and faith"
"Evil is the result of self-seeking."
"It is my hope that...we will all continue to seek God's reign in our lives so that when we have completed them we will be able to return as loving servants and children to God who loves us all." "

When it's time to say one's final words to people who have been part of one's life for 23 years, one speaks the innermost truths of one's being.

A video tribute may be found here.

Below, the Bradford family sings Aloha 'Oe: