The last and greatest of life’s privileges must be the opportunity to design one’s own funeral. Bishop Sir Paul Reeves did so from his sickbed, according to Bishop Philip Richardson, and the greatness of the occasion was therefore an extension of the man himself.

But what might Sir Paul have said to us, had he given the homily? That privilege fell to Bishop Philip, on strict instruction from Sir Paul – another wise choice. And while due honour was paid to Sir Paul’s diplomatic achievements, what we gained most of all from +Philip was a sketch of infectious grace, humour, and political courage.

And yet still the question nags: what would Sir Paul have shared with us from his wellspring of wisdom and experience?

Possibly his proudest moment in recent years was co-presiding at the birth of St Mary’s Cathedral in his beloved Taranaki in March 2010. And the last piece he ever wrote was probably the short foreword to a lavish little book outlining that extraordinary birth and released only a few months ago.

That foreword on honouring God is reproduced below, as a ‘guest editorial’ from the ‘son of Parihaka.’ And don’t let the references to St Mary’s and Taranaki limit the compass of what he says. Sir Paul is sharing both his testimony of faith and a prescription for this church here and now.

A word from on high? Well, yes – and no. Because Sir Paul never forgot his humble beginnings as the son of a Wellington tram-driver, and even as Governor-General still gloried in being a priest and family man – a kaumatua who walked easily with kings and queens across cultures but who knelt to an itinerant carpenter.

As Bishop Philip reiterated in his homily, Sir Paul drew breath from one simple but demanding proposition: that we are created in love, redeemed by love, and called to love. Without exception.

Ta Paora has spoken.

 • • • •

What does it mean to honour God?

We honour God by being an open and inclusive church that helps people to question and discover for themselves the significance of Jesus Christ. We offer support and encouragement, not facile answers that sound good but don’t last. We are people of faith but faith means many things. It means listening, accepting, trusting, questioning and following. Faith may be one person’s experience but more importantly faith moulds and defines a community of disciples. So if we are to understand God’s purposes in the 21st century and avoid being irrelevant to New Plymouth, Taranaki and beyond, then we must uphold each other as we seek deeper truths and strive to be a place of encounter between people and God.

The community at large remains to be convinced that the church is more than a group of people looking after themselves. Our words are good but history, economic conditions, the challenge of Taranaki as the energy province, wealth and poverty, create many walls that define us. St Mary’s does not stand for privilege. The essence of a cathedral is that it belongs to the community and mirrors whatever makes that community rejoice or sorrow. God requires that of us.

Bishop Sir Paul Reeves

Taranaki’s Cathedral – bringing it to birth

For Bishop Philip Richardson’s homily to Sir Paul in Holy Trinity Cathedral , go to http://www.anglicantaonga.org.nz/Features/homily