The Last Sermon of Caitlin Brown.

(Giovanni Sassoferrato | Virgin Mary and the Holy Spirit).

The Last Sermon of Caitlin Brown.

Having been suddenly invited to The Bishop’s residence, Father Terrance Simmonds was somewhat perplexed when upon being asked to sit opposite the Bishop himself, he was then invited to participate in a game of chess. Father Terrance had to confess that he had not the slightest clue in how to play the game and begged to be released from participating as he would surely only make a fool of himself.

“Well..that being so, the last thing a Bishop wants is to have one of his priests make a fool of himself…no matter what the game…but then, Terrance…I hope you don’t mind me fiddling with the pieces in practice for a tournament I am joining in with Cardinal Pearson tomorrow..good, then please bear with me as I explain”.

The Bishop had a soft polishing cloth next to the game board, which he used to clean and shine the individual pieces on the board..As he picked up a piece, he would tell of the origin of the piece and its strategic value to the game…Terrance listened with dull attention, while he wondered on the real reason for his being summoned to the Bishop’s office..but he knew by experience to hold off inquiring as he was certain he would hear about it before long.

The Bishop picked up another piece from the board…he held it pointedly in his hand for longer that the others..

“You see The Bishop here, Terrance?” the Bishop picked up the piece and held it in front of Father Terrance, cradled between his thumb and fore-finger..”it is the only piece on the board that has no military connection..do you know why it was first introduced into the game?”…upon Terrance’s shrug and a mou of ignorance, The Bishop went on to explain in a most calculated and instructive way…”..you see, by its ability to traverse diagonally if unimpeded across the entire board in both directions, it can block or attack where it sees a weakness..that is the strength of the church also..to traverse across all social boundaries unimpeded.”

He then slowly polished the piece and replaced it on the board.

“Chess, Terrance, is a game of chance..no matter how it is portrayed that great skill is involved, it still really is a game of chance..for, as in life itself, one cannot possibly anticipate the exact moves of an opponent nor be certain that you haven’t overlooked a strategic move somewhere that leaves you exposed to attack where you least expected it..the skill is in spotting that chance left open for you to attack”..the Bishop was looking down at the board as he talked…once he finished talking, he slowly looked up and directly at Father Terrance Simmonds…”Do you think it is possible YOU have left yourself open to attack, Terry?”

Father Terrance Simmonds involuntarily gulped with guilty realisation that it was indeed possible that his relationship with his parish offsider, Caitlin Brown has been found out..but he still decided to try and bluff it out.

“I’m really not quite sure what you mean, Bishop…I live a simple life in the diocese”.

The Bishop leant back in his chair and breathed a heavy sigh..then looked to one side as if he was talking to someone seated there..and spoke in a weary voice..”Why does it always work in the movies?”…he then turned back to address Father Terrance..

“I can see that the chess analogy was a waste of time, so I will get straight to the point…Are you or are you not in a relationship with your assistant Miss Caitlin Brown?”

Father Terrance Simmonds suddenly felt the heavy air of the closed office..the tall shelves of tomes and the dark wooden panelling seemed to lean over him and lent a sombre air to the mood of the moment. He took this pause to reflect in the space of seconds, on the long time that the relationship had come in its development from a casual request to this moment in time. It was toward the end of these flashes of illumination that he realised the while his and Caitlin’s affair had been exposed, perhaps the actuality of her writing the Sunday sermons that he delivered from the pulpit had not! In the moment of a second, he decided he would hold this fact close to his chest and while confessing to the affair, he could hope to keep their collegiate conspiracy of the other to themselves.

But even that slight hope was not to be…

“In light of a notification I have received from a “concerned parishioner”, Terrance, I have had my equilibrium of this office disturbed…and when I am disturbed by such “concerned parishioners” (the Bishop made inverted commas with his fingers) I am compelled to make my own inquiries.”

The Bishop then opened a drawer in the desk and placed a manila folder file on the desk in front of himself.

“These, Terence, are copies of your sermons you have delivered to Sunday masses over the last six months…and after a thorough read, I have to say they are not just very good..in a spiritual and theological sense, but also show a remarkable improvement in both grammatical syntax and continuity of topic…which..considering it was myself that marked your papers on theology when you were a seminarian at the college..could demonstrate an almost miraculous intervention of the good Lord himself to bring such a remarkable improvement in your linguistic capabilities”.

The Bishop stopped reading the papers and looked up to Father Terrance with eyebrows raised in an inquiring way..

“Ah..yes..the sermons..” Terrance began..then paused while he considered his next move..

“Bishop to Knight…taken?” the Bishop enquired.

The last remaining glint of escape having been blocked, Father Terrance Simmonds decided to come clean with the details of the evolved love affair between himself and Caitlin.

So yes..Terrance had to confess that it was true and the Bishop had deducted correctly that his prowess with the linguistic skills re writing a sermon left much…MUCH to be desired…and it was in this capacity around a year or so ago that Miss Caitlin Brown offered to assist with penning a sermon or two…which, by and by resulted in his relinquishing the chore of battling with the complexity of rhetoric required in preaching to the congregation..and Caitlin didn’t mind in the least, as a matter of fact, being educated in The Classics, she revelled in the intricacies of language and historical prose…and she adored seeking biblical references to back up her details.

“Well, Terry..(The Bishop replied)..as much as I do appreciate a skilled and well written sermon..I have to say that even lacking such prowess as Miss Brown exhibits, I do consider it imperative that the officiating priest deliver his own written work to his congregation, where they can perceive the true merit of their church representative..So I have to request, most strongly, that you relinquish the services of Miss Brown and revert, be it ever so troubling to both yourself AND the parishioners, to writing your own sermons.

Furthermore, upon the relationship between you and Miss Brown…”

“Oh..but we are engaged to be married, Bishop, we just have not announced it yet…we were waiting for the right moment.”

“That is a very sensible approach, Terry..but may I suggest..in light of the concerns of some parishioners, that you do the right thing soon..and I for one would never use the archaic language of yore in today’s world and demand you ;”make an honest woman of her”..but I would strongly suggest that all being well and good, YOU make an honest man of yourself.. and make a date for the banns and VERY SOON…the church can no longer carry even a hint of scandal after recent salacious reports..and I would not wish to report to head office that one of my subordinates is running his own private seraglio..”

And with those stern words and admonishment, Father Terrance Simmonds was sent on his way.

In relating these developments later to his fiancé, Caitlin, they put their heads together and formulated a timetable to fulfill their devotion to each other and make a date for the wedding. Upon the subject of the sermons, Caitlin said that she would write one last sermon for this Sunday’s service and would not write another under the name of Caitlin Brown..but rather, when their wedding was done and dusted, would then use the name of “Caitlin Simmonds”..thereby, in truth, by-passing the Bishop’s demand and fulfilling both theirs and the congregations pleasure of enjoying in a well-written sermon.

“But, Terrance”..Caitlin sat opposite..” we will have to rehearse this sermon..practice the timing and delivery of the meaning and intent of what it is about…for I have an idea for the sermon that I pray will make it the best I can write..and with the blessings of God, will deliver to both the Bishop and the congregation the meaning of love and devotion..the love and devotion that we have for one another…to share with our parish…It will have to be practiced till you are word and timing perfect as this sermon is a fight, not just for your respect in the eyes of The bishop, but also is a fight for our future in the church.”

Caitlin then set about writing from her heart and her soul.. she placed the word; “Pause” in italics whenever she wanted Terrance to give the congregation a count of five full seconds to reflect on what was just said…also, she instructed Terrance to look to her hands as he read the sermon, for with her hand flat on her heart it was a signal for soft speaking..when she clenched her fist on her heart, it called for a rise in strength…and so on..this way, many hours were spent on rehearsal for the next weeks sermon.

 The Sermon: “For the love of God and for the love of each other.”

Fellow parishioners and worshippers under Christ..Today I want to talk about seasons. As we can see outside, the season has moved from the cold of Winter into the warming season of Spring..and I am reminded to attend to the garden and the fruit trees with the spreading of mulch and fertilizer to give help to the bounty of Nature which we all must concede is in the end the bounty of God. The seasons give notice that change is on the way, as the days of Autumn become cooler and the leaves from the deciduous trees fall, we are told to gather firewood or make preparations for our warmth as Winter comes near..we take the time to harvest the last of the Summer fruits and vegetables and some will use whatever excess bounty they have to preserve those fruits and vegetables to serve in Winter.

The scriptures tell us there is a time for every season under heaven..for every purpose..A time to be born and a time to die..A time to plant and a time to uproot..all things under heaven..and the one thread that joins all these purposes is patience…patience to see them through..patience to pause enough to reflect where we have come from to where we are destined to go..A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together..

(Pause)

When we come into the house of The Lord, THEN it is time to cast away those weighty stones of hurt and worry, for his house is a house of healing..and it is here that we can gather stones..as thoughts, as feelings…we gather them together. It is in His house that we seek forgiveness for our sins, so is it not fair exchange and expectation that we likewise seek to forgive those who we feel have wronged us in return..The saying of “An eye for an eye..” need not be construed as a signal for vengeance, but can also be notice to forgive those as we trust they will forgive us equally…”a tooth for a tooth”..

(Pause.)

A time to be silent and a time to speak..So let us speak of love.

A time to love….but let us not seek a time to hate..for to love is to strive for the highest grace that God has bestowed upon us all..but what is the difference between suffering for love and the glory or reward for love? Love.. Do we even know what it means anymore?  And if we did, how many of us would be willing to “throw it all over”..our whole lives.. on a whim of passionate emotion…I mean, now that we are all aware and sophisticated and have example and warning of just where such reckless action could lead one?..Seriously, ask yourself if you would throw yourself into the arms of another with reckless abandon these days of economic, material and social individualism?

(Pause)

I found this little bit of fantasy in a letter written by a young woman back in the war years giving flight to her desire to secretly see her boyfriend and as it turned out; future husband who was a woodcutter near the Murray River…she says.:

. . . “Now I am free..

Off through the scrub I run,

Where sheep tracks only are seen,

Nothing but bush and sun.

Till all of a sudden I come

Out where an axe swings free

Cutting for love and money,

The axe bites deep in a tree.

Then the owner looks up of a sudden,

And gives me a happy smile

And says I hoped you would come,

And I stay there .. quite a while. “

The words themselves give clue to both the hunger for company and the possibility for a future that only young love could be so certain WAS a possibility…; “ Cutting for love and money”.. What would a timber cutter’s wages be and what future for one of such qualification?.. Where would an adult find reassurance in such a relationship…a relationship with the financial support of a labourer’s qualifications? We’ve all seen or felt the results of low income, low housing and child support capabilities..and it’s not pleasant…who would seek it?

(Pause..then clenched fist on heart)

And then there’s the other end of the spectrum where a person has social status and is getting on with a good career and then they have to consider whether it is wise to bring another person into their life and home and risk having to pay over half the property if something goes wrong further down the line a little…It’s all a bit too much, really.

So where does love come into this picture of modern social sophistication?

Where now for that naïve young girl running through the scrub to meet her lover?

What has love to barter with against the considerations of an ultra-modern lifestyle?

Who needs or wants it?..

Where to for the Wuthering Heights; Catherines and Heathcliffs of our post-modern world? The Romeos and Juliets? That younger you or I? In a world of “Celebrity Meet-n-Marry” Bachelor/ette on the wide-screen plasma tv’s, or type-face to type-face on some dating app on the mobile phone, there would appear to be little taste for chance and that “love at first sight” infatuation, let alone to go rushing off to another’s arms “bare-footed and open-hearted”.

(Pause..hand flat on heart)

So what has become of us that we have grown so cynical and hard of heart? I have heard some state quite categorically that having found “contentment with their choice” (of “partner”), they would rather all people now ignored the fact even of their obvious gender….a seeking of the invisible…beyond either desire from others or ( perhaps?) the temptation of themselves FOR another. Our sophistication has made us feel secure in our pride of conquest over even our sensual emotions to a point where some seek  psychological emasculation of any sexual hunger…a ultra modern world of J. Alfred Prufrock..:

An unpleasant modern world is where T.S.Elliot’s “The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock” is set. Where the character; Prufrock, in the poem, much like Guido da Montefeltro in Dante’s Inferno, is confined to a Hell; The moral of Guido da Montefeltro in Dante’s Inferno is that true repentance cannot be faked, and no earthly authority—not even a corrupt Pope —can grant absolution for a sin committed intentionally. Prufrock’s Hell, however, is on earth, in a lonely, disorientating city. The images of the city are banal and depressing; the night sky pale and empty, “Like a patient etherized upon a table” , soulless, “half-deserted streets”  reveal “one-night cheap hotels / And sawdust restaurants” . Although Eliot does not explore the sterility of the modern world as deeply as he does in his most famous work; “The Wasteland”, the images are undeniably bleak and empty..

Here is a taste of that bleakness..

 “Let us go then, you and I, 

When the evening is spread out against the sky,

Like a patient etherized upon a table;

 Let us go, through certain half-deserted streets, 

The muttering retreats 

Of restless nights in one-night cheap hotels 

And sawdust restaurants with oyster-shells: 

Streets that follow like a tedious argument 

Of insidious intent 

To lead you to an overwhelming question . . . 

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?”

Let us go and make our visit. 

In the room the women come and go 

Talking of Michelangelo. “

Do we seek love or rather, social redress for perceived distress..Is there no justice for the bereaved or the deceived?… Perhaps today’s love can be measured in the many brilliant facets of an engagement ring diamond, or the number of ensuites in a split-level estate house within a gated community…but does it “sing”……….does it sing with the blessings of God’s love?..as in The Song of Soloman..:

“We will exult and rejoice in you;
    we will extol your love more than wine”…

(Pause)

I think we make a grave mistake going down the path of expecting too much from either partner in a relationship, with, in many cases both parties in the relationship now needing to hold down two and sometimes more jobs to pay the bills, bringing cause for doubt or resentment into the home…and there, may be one answer to this hardening of the heart..There, may be the devil who is obvious but cannot be seen, like Guido da Montefeltro playing the role of both instigator and saviour, provocateur and provider…: The endless work cycle.

Speaking as a priest and as a fellow traveller, I have to ask.. “What can be expected of us?..Are we to remake ourselves in an image manufactured on a screen-printer’s design sheet?..according to a psychologist’s “balanced structure”?…some sort of look-alike that acts like a sculptured model off the back-page of a glossy magazine…the photo-shopped perfect image with just the right balance of money, physique, a simpering gaze with tender intent…a designers delight….with that one failing….that many models that cultivate such a persona have a preference only for their own perfected gender.

(Clenched fist on heart)

We all fail the perfection test..that marketeers yardstick that seems to have grabbed the imagination of a whole generation and demands adherence from both genders to a physique and psychology absolute that is impossible to satisfy…resulting in the social chaos we hear about every day in the news columns and airwaves. And I have to confess that it is the men who are most losing the plot on this platform of perfection…our masculinity being converted to a kind of perfumery of scents and washes that have debased our manhood and turned us into satyrs and sadists..our capacity of once serious working men of skill and calibre turned with this so-called “gig-economy” into part-time pantomime producers of silly bibs and bobs in jobs not worth one cent in a dollar!

(Hand flat on heart)

And we wonder why so many lose the plot…Thankfully, I am in a position where I do not have to fight mammon for my food or my soul..but I still recall my father in those days when a fulltime job was shared with working till dark..and beyond..hand-building the family home…then making his way back to a rented house to attend to the fatherly/husbandly duties…but I should imagine feeling that nice, tired feeling of self-respect for doing what needed to be done even with a single worker’s wage…That woodcutter and his young future bride that I spoke off back so long ago was my Father and Mother..

(Pause)

But now I see this younger generation being manipulated in and out of demeaning jobs with low pay and conditions and no hope of creating that “family environment” around either themselves, their loved ones or the community…..A lost generation.. Our hearts hollowed out like a gouged stone.

Then also is there a time for worship as there is a time for work..for it is our joining together in working together in the world that we gather those “precious stones” of family and security together..It is in the working world where we use our faith as strength to weave a tapestry of belief… belief in God alongside belief in ourselves and our friends and family to gather around us those things most valuable in our worship of the sacred unity of holy purpose. And in faith, as in work, it is best practice to let those who have greater capacity in what is required to do the job, to let them have the freedom to practice their skills. Let those who can cook, cook…let those who can pray, pray..for in the end, we all benefit from both practices..and so also indeed, should we let God show mercy to us as he is the most merciful.

(Pause)

     In the story in the gospel of Luke chapter ten..thirty eight to forty two, we read of two sisters, Martha and Mary who opened their house to welcome Our Lord Jesus to stay a while and refresh on his way to Jerusalem. While Jesus sits at the table, we are told of Martha rushing about preparing food and refreshments for those gathered under her roof..while Mary just sits quietly at the feet of Jesus listening to his words..Martha, quite reasonably, comes to Jesus’ ear to ask him to tell Mary to assist her with the preparations…and we are told that Jesus answered so.. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things, there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

    Now to many of us in these times of hurry and stress, the reply of Jesus could be construed as somewhat dismissive and patronising..but in truth, what he is telling Martha as he is telling us all, is to be patient..be patient and all things will come to you in turn. For while the one will work in the day, there are others who will work in the night, some will be active in their work whilst others will be seen as idle. And I am reminded of a sonnet by one of the great poets..John Milton..in his sonnet number nineteen..and I will read it to you..it is another short poem so you need not nod off!..He wrote this sonnet when he was aware he was going blind.

    “When I consider how my light is spent,

   Ere half my days, in this dark world and wide,

   And that one Talent which is death to hide

   Lodged with me useless, though my Soul more bent

   To serve therewith my Maker, and present

   My true account, lest he returning chide;

   “Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?”

   I fondly ask. But patience, to prevent

   That murmur, soon replies, “God doth not need

   Either man’s work or his own gifts; who best

   Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

   Is Kingly. Thousands at his bidding speed

   And post o’er Land and Ocean without rest:

   They also serve who only stand and wait.”

    Yes…that last line is a most famous line, but it is also both pertinent and prescient, in that like the soft reply Jesus gave to Martha, not a chastisement, but a gentle reminder that we hear breathed in Milton’s words also…’They also serve who only stand and wait”…So yes..there is a time for everything under heaven..and do not we here, in this church, in this time, in this life..also serve as best we can..to the best of our abilities, no matter the faults..no matter the weaknesses, no matter the hurt, pain or sorrow…with the passing of an hour that we spend here in the house of God, under the presence of holy benediction, do we not deliver ourselves, body and soul…voice and spirit to praise and be looked down upon with blessing and forgiveness of the one God with so much love in his heart that he can wipe away the fears and hate and bring our souls back to us in a sacrament of unconditional love and forgiveness..

    (Pause)

    So join with me now in prayer…

    We beseech thee oh Christ to bear away our sins and grant us the patience to hold true to our faith and holy sacraments..in the name of the Father , Son and Holy Spirit..amen.

    After the service, A document was pinned to the notice board in the foyer of the church so all could read on passing out of the church..It said..: “Father Terrance Simmonds would like to announce the joyous occasion of the wedding of himself to Miss Caitlin Brown upon a date to be announced within the next week for approx. three months hence. We welcome all the parishioners to join in this celebration of holy matrimony between myself and my fiance Caitlin, and offer up prayers for the success of the occasion. Thanking you all, Father Terrance Simmonds.”

    The Bishop, upon receiving the news of the approaching wedding and after reading the pertinent sermon of that week’s service, rang the presbytery to congratulate Father Terrance..

     “I have to concede, Terrance, that you have managed a tricky situation with tact and aplomb..and perhaps I ought to congratulate also Miss Brown on her so apparent participation toward that end..even quoting Milton, no less..I have to say that it would be a challenge to play the lady in a game of chess..I suspect she would be a formidable opponent. So I concede to you, Terrance..Checkmate!”