October 6th

Post date: Oct 07, 2019 5:26:31 PM

October 6, 2019 Homily by Fr. Karl Schray

Transplanting a tree into the sea using words alone sounds impossible

and ridiculous to us. Using this metaphor, however, Jesus challenges

us to attempt the difficult things of life.

I am sure many of you have done difficult things by stepping out in faith.

St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that God gave us a spirit of power and love, and self-control.

Perhaps you have walked away from a potential confrontation.

Perhaps you have resisted a temptation to join the crowd.

In the Gospel, we have the parable of the under-appreciated servant.

It sounds like we can never make God happy. We can work all day and

He will never be satisfied because that is just what He expects of us.

Like Jesus, we need to see all we do as a sacred duty, a loving duty,

which we give to our generous Heavenly Father.

He doesn’t owe us anything but gives us all we need.

Faith is not something we lose; it is something we just stop using.

We cease to shape our lives by it. Use it or lose it, as they say!

Faith doesn’t mean we have all the answers either, but we don’t need

all the answers. Faith, like trust, gives birth to hope—

and we all need hope as much as we need food and water.

Faith is listening, heeding and opening our hearts to God who is always knocking—wanting a relationship with us.

Here is a story of a surgeon who had forgotten his relationship with God:

A surgeon telling a young boy about his upcoming open-heart surgery.

“Tomorrow morning” the surgeon began, “I’ll open up your heart…”

‘You’ll find Jesus there,’ the boy interrupted.

The surgeon looked up, annoyed, “I’ll cut your heart open, to see how much damage has been done…”

‘But when you open up my heart, you’ll find Jesus in there’, said the boy.

The surgeon looked to the parents, who sat quietly. “When I see how much damage has been done, I’ll sew your heart and chest back up; and I’ll plan what to do next.”

‘But you’ll find Jesus in my heart. The Bible and all the hymns say He lives there. You’ll find Him in my heart.’

The surgeon had had enough. “I’ll tell you what I’ll find—I’ll find damaged muscle, low blood supply and weakened vessels. And I’ll find out if I can make you well.”

After the surgery, the surgeon sat in his office, recording his notes from the operation, “damage aorta, damaged pulmonary vein, widespread muscle degeneration. No hope for transplant, no hope for cure. Therapy- painkillers and bed rest. Prognosis- (he paused) death within one year.”

Why? He asked aloud. “Why did you do this? You’ve put him here. You’ve put him in this pain and cursed him to an early death. Why?”

The Lord answered, “The boy, my lamb, was not meant for your flock for long, he is part of my flock and will be forever.”

Here in my flock, he will feel no pain, and will be comforted as you cannot imagine.

The surgeon’s tears were hot, but his anger was hotter. “You created that boy and he’ll be dead in months. Why?”

The Lord answered, “I did not put my lamb with your flock to lose him,

but to retrieve another lost lamb.” The surgeon wept.

When the boy awoke, he whispered, ‘Did you cut open my heart?’

“Yes”, said the surgeon. ‘What did you find?’ Asked the boy.

“I found Jesus there” said the surgeon.