The Rt. Rev. L. Errol Brooks used the opportunity of the Service of Thanksgiving, for the life of the late Alban Ashford John, on June 26, 2021, to challenge the congregation at the Pro-Cathedral of St. Mary with what he described as “some rhetorical questions”. And then he advised them to “get a life.”
The Bishop, admired for his melodious and deeply-penetrating bass voice, during the singing of some of the Anglican Church’s best known hymns, told the congregation:
“I have some rhetorical questions for you. I want you to answer these questions in your heart. Answer them truthfully.”
• “Are you living, or are you merely surviving?”
• “When you get to where you are going, where will you be?”
• “Living is a thing you do now or never – which do you do?”
• “Is there anyone in this congregation who will like to live forever?”
The Bishop continued: “I wish to recommend – first of all – that each one of us should get a life – a life here and now: for life is a gift of God. And we need to enjoy it – not in a frivolous manner. Jesus said: ‘I came that they may have life and may have it abundantly.’ Abundantly means fully. It means completely. It has to do with quality – not with quantity. God likes life. He invented it. It is to be full, flowing and free; and He invites us to that abundant life.
“Someone said ‘life is a wonderful gift’ and that is why we call it the present…It is a present to us here and now. The question is: what are we making of it? Sometimes it takes a traumatic moment to awaken us to life, something drastic to happen to really get us to appreciate life.
“There was a woman by the name of Jane Marie Thibault who wrote a book entitled: A Deepening Love Affair. She tells how she was involved in a terrible car accident. She said she crawled out from that mangled car (and I am quoting her now): ‘I began seeing life as a gift. I wobbled around in a field in a daze. What I remember most is, being totally aware of the greenness of the grass, the blueness of the sky, a few puffs of cloud overhead, and some birds squawking raucously in the trees. I was alive! What a blessing! What a precious gift everything was, at that moment, as I crawled out of that mangled car!’
“That was a moment for her to really appreciate life,” the Bishop commented. “Each day is a God-given day. Each day is a beautiful day when you are fully alive; but then, life is a gift that we must share. It is not for us to keep it to ourselves.
“I am sure you remember the story of the young rich man who went to Jesus and said: ‘What can I do to inherit eternal life?’
“Jesus replied: ‘Keep the commandments and you will live.’
“The young man replied: ‘But, teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.’
“Jesus looked at him and, loving him, said: ‘There is one thing left – go, sell whatever you have and give it to the poor and then come, and follow me.’
“The young man walked away with deep sadness. You see, my brothers and sisters, life is not about getting. It is not about gaining. It is not about having; thriving; accumulating and arriving. Life is not about me, my, I. Life is about community and caring – seeking and sharing; loving and being loved.”
Reciting the story of Martha, Mary and their brother, Lazarus, who died while Jesus was not with the two grieving sisters, the Bishop added: “All of us have certain expectations of others. When we are in tough moments, we expect somebody else to be there. We want our friends to gather around because life is one of those things that you have to share. A community is where people come together and share each other’s joys and bear each other’s burdens.
“In case you are not aware of this, let me tell you: joys shared are doubled; sorrows shared are cut in half; life is a gift. Share it. That is why we are gathered here sharing with Celestine, the children and all the relatives [of the late Alban Ashford John], coming together as a community because we realise that life is to be shared. Get a life.”
That life, Bishop Brooks pointed out, in the rest of his sermon, is found in the Resurrection of Jesus and the Heavenly place He is preparing for those who are seeking His Kingdom.
