Tea at Martha's, and at Ted's

Dorothy and Ted Shea

Tea at Martha’s, and at Ted’s

"I’ve been thinking," said Mary to Martha," we ought to have a thanksgiving-meal in honour of Jesus for raising our brother Lazarus to life again". " Brilliant idea" replied Martha, " I’ll do the organising," she said. "OK, said Mary "I’ll send the invites".
"What about having a pot-luck dinner?" Martha said, " you know, when people bring along food and drinks to share among the guests". "Wonderful" Mary answered, " I’ll mention it on the invite-cards. We’ll have a surprise party for our brother Lazarus.
We call it: " Tea at Martha’s".

(In New Zealand tea is a hot meal in the evening, with or without tea.)

And so the gospel-story (John 12,1-8) came alive. You can imagine the great joy of the two sisters. A beautiful festive meal was given in Bethany. Lazarus couldn’t believe his eyes when he came back from a walk and entered his house. The table was covered with a beautiful spread. Peter had brought along a fresh catch of fish from the lake. James came along with a bag full of eggplant and olives, while a former disciple of John the Baptist brought a lamb. Others had with them chicken and freshly baked bread. Jesus himself brought a crate of the best wine. As you see nothing was spared to make it a good time for all. Jesus even had a go at barbequing the fish that Peter caught the very same day. (Jesus did the same thing (BBQ) later when he prepared breakfast one morning on the lakeside. (John 21, 9)

Of course there was singing and dancing. The most popular song was: "Shalom my friend, Shalom my friend. Shalom, Shalom. The peace of Christ I give to you. Shalom, Shalom". The apostles were good in harmonising " Thank you, alleluia, thank you alleluia, thank you alleluia!!Amen!" They sang it in hebrew, latin, greek, arabic and galilean.

The surprised Lazarus gave a very moving speech thanking Jesus once again for bringing him back to life, all the guests for coming along to celebrate and his sisters Mary and Martha for the real surprise-party. He said that meals, especially this one, are expressions of hospitality and celebrations of friendship. They are times of thanksgiving, where we are all together as a sign of the bonds that unite us. At the end of the party John presented Lazarus a self-painted icon showing the image of Jesus with his arm around Lazarus. The text on it said, "I no longer call you servants but friends".
…………..

The same gospel reading (John 12,1-8) was read this morning (8 July 2008) at the Requiem Mass in the St Teresa’ church of Ted Shea, age 92. He was married to Dorothy, who with Ted was one of the most hospitable couples in Plimmerton NZ.
I was one the many people who has been invited for a meal at their home.

So we had "Tea at Ted’s".

Three years ago they celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary at St Teresa’s.
All the many friends were invited to this special occasion. After Mass we celebrated their faithfulness to each other and their friendship to all of us. The parish hall was decorated and on the tables there was a beautiful spread of sandwiches, cakes and sweets and of course a wedding cake. After the singing and dancing Ted stood up and gave a moving speech thanking all the guests for coming along to celebrate and all the helpers for the real surprise party. At the end we had coffee or tea. You see we had again "Tea at Ted's"

".
During Ted’s funeral Mass this morning we prayed for peace and rest for this faithful servant who Jesus now no longer calls servant but friend.

Ted did not want any fuss at the service; A simple Mass and no eulogy.

But his oldest son John read out a testament of Ted.
He thanked Dorothy, his wife for 63 years, his children and grand children.

A member of the Titahi bay Returned service men invited all of us

to put a poppy on Ted’s casket, "less we forget."

Following the mass we were warmly invited to gather with the family for refreshments in the Parish Hall where further memories were shared. Again we had " Tea at Ted’s".

Like the Jesus and his disciples were grateful to Martha, Mary and Lazarus for having Tea at Maratha’s, we too are all grateful to God for the life of Ted, for having "Tea at Ted’s".

God Bless

Father John, Plimmerton NZ, 8 July 2008