October 7, 2007 Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Worldwide Communion & Thanksgiving Sunday
Preached at Kingston Road United Church by the Rev. Richard C. Choe
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34They said to him, ‘Sir, give us this bread always.’ 35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Richard C. Choe©
“Communion Basket & Cup at Walpole Island First Nations United Church”
What are you thankful for?
What are you thankful for as you celebrate Thanksgiving?
I know that Thanksgiving Day will always be associated with a miracle that happened to my friend Glenn this weekend.
“In Honour of those who gave the Gift of Life” This inscription was etched on the 7th floor of the Toronto General Hospital as you enter Transplant Unit of the hospital. There are sixty photos of people on either side of the inscription. Each photo is accompanied with a brief description of the person. They are photos of men and women, boys and girls, who have donated their organs so that others may live. I was so moved by the individuals who were courageous enough and generous enough to share part of their body so that someone else may have a chance to live life anew.
A woman came by me around 6 am on Saturday morning as I was reading the descriptions of each person on the wall. “They are beautiful, aren’t they?” she commented. “Are you doing a research to write a book?” she asked me. “No, but I would like to share some of their stories with others since a friend of mine is waiting for transplant surgery,” I said to her. “My name is Suzanne and I just had heart transplant on September 20,” she said. “I did not know how long it takes to recover but I am so thankful for these people.” “I read about some of these people in the news,” Suzanne said as she walked toward her room, pushing her IV trolley.
My friend Glenn Smith, whom some of you have met at our Covenanting service last year, has been waiting for kidney and pancreas transplants for about three years. He received a call on Friday night around 9 pm that he would need to get to the Toronto General Hospital as soon as possible. The call was from 705 calling area, Glenn told me as we were heading to the hospital. We were surmising that there must have been a fatal accident in Northern and Central Ontario, places like Halliburton and Barry. Glenn was also told that he was a “secondary” recipient – meaning that the surgery may or may not happen this time.
Glenn, Kim and I were beyond excitement as we were heading down the Gardiner Expressway. We know how difficult it has been for Glenn as he awaited for a possible transplants. There were so many ups and downs. A close friend of Glenn’s volunteered to donate her kidney and they spent so much time going through all the required procedures in the past year. But there were medical complications that prevented the hope of transplant at the last stage a few weeks ago. Needless to say, this was such a disheartening experience for all of us who were hopeful of the transplant for Glenn so he could live his life as fully as possible. Then, the call came out of the blue on Friday night. A gift might have his name on it.
“It is good to be a friend.”
“It is good to be a friend,” was what I was thinking as I was rushing along the highway to take my friend to a hospital on Friday evening.
We got to the hospital in record time. Kim reminded me that the surgery was not an excuse for me to fly down the highway. Once Glenn was admitted to the hospital, a long wait began. Three of us spent the night sharing jokes and regaling one another as nurses came in through the night and morning to perform various tests and preparations for the surgery. No one at the hospital was able to tell us whether the surgery would happen. All we knew was that there was a possibility of a surgery.
Three of us formed a circle as we held hands and pray to God for Glenn’s safe keeping and guidance for the surgeons and nurses. The emotions of the moment and the tears flowed on our cheeks reminded us of the friendship and love we shared with those who were praying for Glenn. 27 hours after he received the call Glenn’s surgery was successful and he was alert last night.
It is wonderful to be alive. It is wonderful to give a “Gift of Life” when you have an opportunity to do so.
Here are two descriptions I read from the wall of the Transplant Unit on Saturday morning.
Robert was wearing a tuxedo with a smile on his face. He looked to be in his mid 30s.
“Known as Bobby to friends and family, he was full of life and always had a smile. He enjoyed fishing, cars and being with friends. He was a loving son and a caring person with a heart of gold. He would have wanted to know that through organ donation he was still able to help another. He is dearly missed by all who knew him.”
Sarah was wearing a graduation gown and a mortar board in the photos. She looked to be about 8 years old.
“Sarah was beautiful child who stole people’s heart at a very early age. She was full of love and not shy to show it. She helped people however she could. Sarah loved to swim, fish and ride her bike. Her school planted a tree in her memory. Not a day goes by that she is not missed immensely by her family.”
It is indeed wonderful to be alive. It is truly wonderful to give a “Gift of Life” when you have an opportunity to do so.
We heard the words of Jesus remembered by the early Christians in the Community of John, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Robert, Sarah, and those who gave their organs in their death have become the bread of life for those who have received transplants – like my friend Glenn Smith and Suzanne whom I met at the hospital yesterday. People like Robert and Sarah gave opportunities for others to have their life renewed. I am immensely grateful to those who had courage to share their life through organ donations for I know what it is like to see a dear friend’s life being renewed and regenerated with hope and possibilities of a future.
In my thanksgiving for Glenn’s renewed life, I am also mindful of the death of the person who shared part of his or her body. I think of the pain the family must be experiencing as they mourn the loss of their child, parent, and love of their lives. I pray for God’s guidance and comfort as they grieve the loss of their loved one.
Jesus is remembered as the bread of life by us for we believe that Jesus is present in and through our lives as we comfort those who are in need of our care and celebrate with those who are experiencing joy in their lives.
It is good to be a friend – for Jesus is our friend. It is good to be a “Gift of Life” – for Jesus is the gift of life for us all.
On this Thanksgiving Sunday we are thankful for all those friends who are walking with us in this journey called life. We are grateful for so many who have been a source of nurturing and sustenance for us as we traverse this passage called life
We celebrate Worldwide Communion – partaking in the celebration of being part of body of hope for a renewed life in Jesus Christ. We “re-member” (bind) ourselves with people of Burma – military dictators who are spiritually destitute as well as for those who are hungering for food and for justice in their land. We “re-member” (bind) ourselves with our neighbours who are homeless and those who experience “homelessness” even when they are at home. We “re-member” (bind) ourselves with Jesus Christ as we join in his ministry of loving kindness for all God’s creatures.
Amen.
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