Address by Rev Paul Bradish, St Mary’s Church, Kings Worthy

Whilst we’re dispersed by time and space in these most unusual times, we gather and are united by our love of, and friendship with, Bob; something that’s been shared in our service most beautifully through that tribute, and through the many things that we’ve seen online, from the cricket club and elsewhere: friends from the past, and people remembering Bob watching this service too.
The first passage that Lisa read to us is, perhaps, on reflection for me, one that would be beloved by insurers. For isn’t it the case that it’s what Jesus also offers; it’s a little bit like what insurers do. Insurance is the carrying of burdens, by another on your behalf. When the going gets rough, when it all gets too much, there is someone to whom you can turn and ask to step in, shoulder the load, and take responsibility.
You probably know this, but one of Commercial Union’s subsidiaries, was a company in Ireland called Hibernian Insurance (it’s probably called Aviva now, I’m sure they are rebranded all the time). I had the opportunity to help Hibernian just for a short few months before I was ordained, and working with the Irish is always a lovely thing, and they have a great way with words. And in the Irish economy the marketing line for Hibernian was particularly profound – simple, profound, and yet played into the Irish psyche. It was simply this: “You’re safe in the hands of Hibernian”.
We’ve heard a little bit about Bob’s life and his interests, and of course Sue and Lisa know something of that journey towards the end, how they cared for him, and helped carry that burden of his life. The love that they showed, and the rest of the friendship that was displayed by the family, as Bob’s innings drew to a close, and stumps were finally drawn.
One of the great privileges we have in this life is to help carry other’s burdens, and we are seeing it all the time at the moment: something that Anna is doing, where ordinary people are being transformed into heroes, as they carry the burdens of others, to give rest, to give comfort, and particularly to those in distress or acute need.
And as Christians we know this to be true – we follow the example of Jesus Christ, the one whose promise is more steadfast, reliable and certain than anything we can humanly know or put our trust in. He invites us to trust him, but what he offers is much, much more than any insurance company could do, or any human being can do. See, unlike institutions and people, there are no terms, no limitations, no exclusions, cancellation or expiry of God’s everlasting love for us. We’re really safe in the hands of Jesus. And that’s a truth we claim and declare for Bob this day.
The second sentence that Lisa read to us gives us a clue just how safe we are, and the extent to which God goes. The Book of Revelations, written by the apostle John, is written at the end of his life. John has been exiled and holed up in this Greek island of Patmos, and he’s spending all his time reflecting on what his life journey has been, and he receives these remarkable revelations. And in the passage that Lisa read to us, it goes on to describe a “new heaven and a new earth”, a magnificent picture is painted of all this that God has promised to us: a new holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from heaven, which we will see and know. And often in the rush and clamour to get to what the detail is, we can overlook a simple but significant phrase that John concludes with. It’s almost a throwaway line that John gives us, but it’s power is immense, its significance helps us this day, and it’s simply this: “And the sea was no more.” Why did John say that, why did John actually write ‘And the sea was no more’? Well, John, in simple terms, was responding to the greatest known physical fear in his time – the sea. You think about it, travel in those days was extremely difficult. To get into a boat and go into open water, literally took one of the greatest risks that you might take in life. It struck fear into the heart of the ancient traveller – you didn’t know whether you would make it to your destination. And of course, Commercial Union and Aviva weren’t around in those times as well! Navigation was perilous, travel was the great risk, stars were the only companion, no radar, crude, incomplete charts, maps, no weather predictions, other than anecdotal myths and rhymes. And John picks up this great fear, and says this about it: you know, when God’s all-time plan gets rolled out, and when God is reconciling all things to himself through Christ, the sea will be no more. There will be nothing that will impinge, limit, constrict or frighten us. Things will be forever different, and forever better.
And that, dear family gathered here, family watching us in Sweden, friends from around the world, and in this country too, this is the great hope we have this day for Bob: that the limitations, restrictions, constraints and fears, those things which became his ‘sea’ at the end of this life, they are banished, gone forever, in God’s eternal presence.
A wonderful resurrection moment for Bob has come, for which we give thanks and praise. May he rest in peace and rise in glory, safe in the hands of Jesus.
Amen
 
 
Funeral of Robert Alfred Miell
April 21st, 2020
Chesil House, Winchester