A sermon on Matthew 10:26-33 and a tribute to Linda Bradford

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
Catholic Hospital Chaplain
Cincinnati Children's Hospital
and HCP columnist

Charles Blondin was the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) tightrope walkers even to this day. His skill was only exceeded by his courage. 

He stretched out a 1,300-foot, two-inch wide rope 160 feet above the raging Niagara Falls. Starting on June 30, 1855, this slender man with bright blond hair and blue eyes walked across Niagara Falls 300 times! He was so talented the crowd of 25,000 people compared him to a bird flying through the air. Some women and even the strongest men in the crowd fainted from fear as they watched the rope sway and dip as Charles walked across it with no net underneath. He wore pink tights so people could more easily see him. 

Blondin didn't just walk the rope. He performed death defying stunts that sent the onlookers into a frenzy. Here are some of the things he did while walking the rope:

1) Walked blindfolded;

2) Walked with a heavy sack laid on his shoulders;

3) Carried a stove, cooked an omelet on it which he lowered down to a boat for a snack after the show;

4) Carried a camera and took a photo of the crowd;

5) Performed somersaults and flips;

6) Carried his manager on his back with the instructions "Don't try to balance. Just hold tight and be part of me;"

7) He crossed at night with only lights on the rope to guide him; and

8) At the age of 65, he carried his son on his back over Staten Island New York

There was one trick he performed on the rope that challenged the crowd. Before performing his acrobatic stunts, Charles always asked the crowd, "Do you believe I can do this?" 

They would loudly shout out. "Yes, we believe in you. You can do this!" while clapping and cheering. Then Charles would ask, "Do you believe I can walk across the rope with a wheelbarrow?" 

Once again, they shouted out their belief. Blondin would pose a final question. "Since you have faith I can do this, who among you will hop in the wheelbarrow and go across the Falls with me?" 

The crowd fell silent. Not one volunteer came forward. A few walked away shame faced because their faith in him was just empty words.

There are times in life when our faith is "put on the line." Jesus calls you to hop into His wheelbarrow. Jesus challenges you to believe He can carry you over the roaring waters that threaten you. Jesus has the power to keep you from falling into the abyss of fear. 

When a storm threatened to drown the Apostles, Jesus walked through the raging water right up to their boat. He comforted them. "It is I. Do not be afraid." (John 6:20.) 

Jesus never fails anyone who hops into His wheelbarrow with faith. Jesus knows and cares about everything that's going on in your life. Even your smallest concerns are important to Him. Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin?"

Yet, not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. Even all the hairs of your head are counted. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31.)

* * *

• Now, I want to honor a Greatest Of All Time beloved person who was never afraid to jump into God's "wheelbarrow with faith."

St. Mary Catholic School in Hillsboro had only one secretary for its entire existence. Linda Bradford passed to the Lord on June 14. 

She packed a lot of love in her short 63 years. She was like a mother to the hundreds of children who walked through the school doors. Linda kept a jar of Band-Aids on her desk to cover the small scrapes students might get on the playground. She would apply her special "magic cream" (unscented hand lotion) on the imagined wound that turned a child's cries to happy smiles. 

Linda possessed a deep faith that strengthened me when I would fret every year if we could keep the school going. 

She would simply say, "God has a plan. If He wants St. Mary School to stay open, it will." 

And it miraculously stayed open for 23 years. Linda's faith stayed strong throughout her entire illness. Her daughter Kati told me, "Mom faced her cancer with faith that God had a plan for her. He would take care of her. Mom died peacefully surrounded by her family who loves her very much." 

Lois Richendollar wrote, "Though Linda has left us here on earth, her kindness and unshakeable faith will live in all those who knew her." 

Knowing Linda has made me a better Christian. I thank God for the blessing of her life.