June 30th (Memorial Mass) + Last Phone Call

Post date: Jun 25, 2018 10:17:10 PM

In Loving Memory of Fr. Bill Ryan

In the Gospel, the two disciples who are making their way to Emmaus have experienced Jesus’ death and they are trying to make sense of his life, a life that ended so unexpectedly and tragically. Somehow it did not work out as they had hoped. The death of Jesus did not fit what they imagined the direction of his life to be. Then the risen Jesus joins them on their journey though they do not recognize Him, and He opens their minds. When He explains the Scriptures to them, they understand the truth: Jesus’ sacrificial death is precisely why he came on earth.

Then Jesus shares with these disciples the Meal that celebrates the meaning of his life and death and their eyes are opened. Overjoyed they return to Jerusalem with their hearts burning with the knowledge that Jesus had been raised from the dead. He lives! And if we are united with Jesus, we shall live with him forever.

More than 30 years ago, Fr. Bill was sent by the Provincial to Southern Oregon to help the Augustinians decide whether to build a retreat center in the area. Because of his deciding vote, we have St. Rita’s Retreat Center.

For 28 years, here in Myrtle Creek and Glendale, Fr. Bill gave us some wonderful memories. As your pastor, he was a loving channel of God’s Graces in the Sacraments and homilies. He made a big difference to the needy—through St. Vincent DePaul store and social services and establishing and serving at the warming center. So many were blessed because he was a spiritual director of the Cursillo Movement for the last 16 years. The greatest memory is to know he is forever in our Father’s hands, and that he hears the words: “Come blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I have prepared for you. For whatever you did to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did for me.”

Today’s Scriptures all say Faithfulness and that was Fr. Bill. He was very dedicated to doing God’s will. Challenges and sufferings—he knew them well—and more precisely, he accepted them, not as punishments but as discipline, a honing of his faithfulness.

As gold in the furnace, our Lord proved Fr. Bill. We, too, are in a crucible. Happily, medicine has been able to alleviate some pains but not all. Father knew and accepted the limitations that physical weakness imposed on him. He knew his God was the master refiner whose refining purified us. The Bible says the refiner puts the silver into the furnace 7 times—all the time checking it. Asked how the refiner can tell when the silver is pure enough, he says: ‘It is pure enough when I can see my reflection in the silver.

Because Jesus is Lord of the living, Fr. Bill lives with his risen Savior for all eternity.

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A voice mail message (May 13^th) from Fr. Bill to Fr. Karl when Fr. Karl asked if he received the notes of love and support for him from All Souls and Holy Family. And how sad we all were about his diagnosis:

“Hey, Karl, I did get the big envelope with all the prayers from the people in Myrtle Creek & Glendale. So, thanks for collecting and sending them.

On a second note, ‘on the very sad to hear about’… hey this is the chart that the Sacred Heart of Jesus has mapped out. You don’t be sad about going down where he says to. Okay, I don’t know where you’re going but I know with whom. And that’s not a sad trip but a happy trip. He said: I’ll make my joy your joy and he didn’t add, providing you’re not dying.

All the doctors do is guess that it’s going to be 2-6 months. The Sacred Heart of Jesus doesn’t guess about when it is. He knows exactly. It’s only a guess that I will see the Sacred Heart of Jesus before you.

Can you imagine in 2 months meeting Jesus, and meeting my grandpa, Frank, and my twin brothers 5 years younger than me, who were still-born, and see my father and mother and all the rest of my relatives. The generation before us got wiped out by heart and stroke. Mama mia!

We’ll get the overview from heaven. It’s not sad to be going to heaven. It’s happy. The Sacred Heart of Jesus should be the source of both of our joy.

Take me with you; I’m following. If you want to be my follower, pick up your cross daily and follow me. Give that note to the people. That’s a happy note.

Sacred Heart of Jesus says, “Come this way.” ‘Okay, boss, be right there.’