A sermon on Matthew 11:25-30

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

A strong young teenage athlete named John and his friend Bob went to a lake in the park to cool down on a hot summer day. John waded only in the shallow part of the lake because he couldn't swim. What he didn't know was that he was walking on an underwater ledge. 

The more he walked through the water the closer he got to the edge of the ledge. Then it happened. 

John fell of the ledge and plunged beneath the surface of the water. He rose to the top of the water in a panic, wildly flailing his warms and gasping for breath. The life guard saw what was happening. 

He jumped into the water. Both Bob and the lifeguard swam toward John who was still thrashing his arms and legs. When they got close to John, the lifeguard yelled to Bob, "Stop. Tread water here with me." 

Bob went ballistic. He yelled at the lifeguard, "Are you crazy? If you don't go in and save him I will!" 

The lifeguard replied, "No one can help him yet. I’ll help him when he’s ready for my help." 

After a few minutes, John grew exhausted. He didn't move. He lay limp upon the water. The lifeguard yelled at Bob, "Now he's ready. Let's go get him!"

Bob and the lifeguard swam to John, holding him from behind with their strong arms, keeping John's head above the water. It was a successful rescue. Later on, Bob asked the lifeguard, "Why did you wait to help John?" 

The lifeguard responded, "As long as John was trying to save himself, there was nothing I could have done for him. If I had grabbed him right away, he would have grabbed me and pulled me under with him. Only when he was weak, exhausted and had given up trying to save himself only then was I able to save him."

Jesus guards you when life drowns you with problems you can't control. That's when Jesus wants you to stop struggling. "Let go, and let God" means you believe Jesus has the power to keep your head above water. You have faith Jesus can hold you in His strong arms, lifting you over the problems that make you anxious.  

An unknown author wrote, “Just when you feel like you’re drowning in life, remember your lifeguard walks on water.”  

Jesus proclaims to those who carry heavy burdens, "Come to Me." 

My ministry at Children's Hospital has taught me the heaviest burdens we carry are worry and fear. Fear of not knowing the future and the worry of what it will be. Jesus invites you to come to Him. Have faith that He has your future in His hands. He wants to lift off your shoulders the burdens of worry and fear and replace it with peace and rest. 

The Bible repeatedly encourages believers to trust God and not be anxious. One of my favorite verses is this one from Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." There is nothing that happens in your life journey that you and Jesus can't handle together.

I believe God gives miracles to prove without a doubt that He is with you "wherever you go." 

Miracle comes from the Latin word "miraculum" which means "something wonderful". Something wonderful happened to a little nine year old boy who came to Children's Hospital in April. He was very sick. He could not talk nor communicate. His eyes stayed shut. He did not walk. He just lay in bed. It was like his whole body just shut down. For the next three months the medical team searched intensely for why this happened and what is the cure. Disappointment followed every failed treatment.

Mom worked with the doctor's to find a cure. A possible treatment plan emerged with a drug called IVIG. Didn't know if it would work but with options running out they gave it a try. The infusion takes four hours. Then something wonderful happened. 

After just 30 minutes, the little boy sat up in bed. He looked around. He spoke his first words, "I'm going to the zoo." He grabbed his IV pole. He was ready to leave the hospital and visit the animals. 

His nurse told me, "This is a miracle. I have never seen this medicine work so fast." 

The little boy is now happily at home with his family. He is too weak to walk due to lying in bed for three months. Mom is confident physical therapy will restore it. She sent me a pic with her son sitting in a wheelchair holding his baby sister in his lap. Mom texted, "Baby is getting wheelchair joy rides." 

God says in Revelation 21:5, "And the One seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.'” 

Come to Jesus with faith. Let Him work something wonderful for you.