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The Venerable Archdeacon Hoey's sermon at Archbishop Eames' farewell Eucharist
SERMON AT ARCHBISHOP?S FAREWELL EUCHARIST
11.00 a.m. 31 December 2006
St Patrick?s Cathedral, Armagh.
Preacher: The Archdeacon of Armagh
The Venerable Raymond Hoey
What sort of Christmas did you have?
I can guess at some of the ingredients?.
Christmas tree, lights, decorations, cards, holly, poinsettia, crackers, turkey, ham, plum pudding, Christmas cake, trifle, chocolates, shopping, presents, Santa Claus, reindeer, families, friends, excitement, nativity plays, shepherds, wise men, angels, manger scenes, carol services, Christmas communion ?all part of the joy of Christmas! I like it!
There are two lines of a Christmas carol that I always find very moving:
?He came down to earth from heaven
Who is God and Lord of all?
The same truth is expressed in a verse of the Gospel of Christmas Day which I always find amazing:
?The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us?.
The word, the logos, that which was with God in the beginning, he who made the world, he who is God, has come to earth as a baby not to a palace but to a stable.
That is the wonder, the joy and the hope of the Incarnation.
I had a strange and busy Christmas this year - a death on Christmas Day and another death, a tragic one in a house fire, on St Stephen?s Day. It seemed entirely appropriate, even in the sadness of death, to leave our church Christmas tree lit for the funerals, a light shining in the darkness.
?The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.?
In the Old Testament there are frequent references to the word of the Lord coming to people with a message, usually instruction or advice or challenge. In Jeremiah, Chapter 1, verse 11 we find something different:
?And the word of the Lord came to me saying ?What do you see??
When you look at all the trappings of Christmas, what do you see? Is it just a pretty, familiar scene from a Christmas card or is it a life and death story about the love of God and the story of redemption, about the love of God for you?
When you look around this Cathedral Church today, what do you see? I trust that you find a people eager for God, a diocesan family thanking God for the ministry and episcopate of Archbishop Robin Eames, an inspiring leader and pastor. It seems so short a time since he stood in this pulpit at his Enthronement and preached on the memorable text from St John 21:
?Simon Peter said ?I am going fishing? and the other disciples said ?We will go with you?.
I trust that you see in your mind?s eye something of the sheer hard work, the faithfulness, the dedication, the prayers, the sweat, the tears he has put into being our bishop and leader over the past 20 years. He has entered our parishes, our churches, our homes and our lives in good days and bad, and has shown us the face of God.
Much has been said and written elsewhere about his outstanding gifts and talents and those of his wife Christine and family. When you look around today, I hope that you see that charming, talented wife and family, a lovely family dear to the heart of Robin Eames. I hope that you are grateful to that family for sharing Robin Eames with us and being such a source of support and joy to him. And let your gaze fall for a moment on those delightful grandchildren, so precious to adoring grandparents.
?And the word of the Lord came to me saying ?What do you see??
I see a man of God, a good man, a man with whom social status or earthy possessions count little, a man whom we shall all miss. He is a man about whom St Paul could have been writing in the Epistle of today:
?As God?s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. ?... Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts ?.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.?
Archbishop Eames, Lady Eames and family we salute you, we thank you, we wish you much happiness in new areas of service in the future. As you take your leave of us, may God be with you.