A sermon on Matthew 13:44-46
By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church (Hillsboro,
St. Benignus Catholic Church (Greenfield),
Saint Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church (Peebles)
Holy Trinity Catholic Church (West Union)
You must answer this question when you accept Jesus into your life: "What am I willing to do to enter Heaven?"
Heaven is the pearl of great price. It is the hidden treasure in the field. How far will you go to possess it?
In this story, Jesus said the merchant and the person gave up everything to possess it. When you find Jesus and possess Him through faith, your life will no longer be your own.
St. Paul says in Romans 14:8, "If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord."
When you live for Jesus, He will give you opportunities to get you closer to Heaven. I call them "blessed events." They can appear at any time or place.
Here is a story of an unplanned blessed event that brought great joy to a lonely child and to God.
Eleven-year-old Shayden Walker took a chance to find friendship. His world is a lonely one where other kids bully him. They don't understand his mental disorders. So, they make fun of him – a lot. Driven by loneliness Shayden took a chance to find anyone who would accept him with kindness.
He walked down the street to the home of Brennan and Angell. Shayden met them before when their dog got lost. They seemed like a nice couple. He spoke through the doorbell camera.
“Um, I just wanted to see if you knew any kids around like 11 or 12, maybe? I need some friends, like really bad.”
Brennan didn't know of any kids. He suggested maybe he and his 2-year-old daughter could keep company with Shayden. Shayden was overjoyed.
“Oh great! I love 2-year-olds, to be honest, they’re like the most cutest things I’ve ever known.”
They played together. Shayden was delighted. A blessed event was born.
Brennan and Angell didn't stop there. They posted an online video showing the destructive results of a bully's victim. They set up an online site to raise money to buy Shayden some nice clothes. Other kids made fun of him for his ripped pants and shirts. Shayden's parents worked hard to provide for her son, but minimum wage doesn't buy a whole lot.
This blessed event of Brennan and Angell's caring struck a nerve across the world. The GoFundMe account blew past $20,000 the first day. People from around the world shared the pain of their experiences from a bully. Like the understanding heart God gave to King Solomon, Shayden understood the pain of abuse.
Shayden said, "Bullying is a dark and lonely path for the bully or the one being bullied."
Shayden lived in Amarillo, Texas. Hundreds of his hometown folk gathered together for a blessed event called "Shine Like Shayden."
They became a voice for those bullied who could not speak for themselves. The online video was viewed 100 million times. Shayden now has invitations of friendship from kids worldwide. Shayden stopped the GoFundMe page when the money total reached $37,000 on the second day. Shayden will donate the bulk of his funds to the people of Ukraine.
He said, "They are being bullied far worse than me."
God created a blessed event from the pain of a little boy seeking kindness. His determination to find it united the world. God used Brennan and Angell to create a treasure containing the finest pearls of love.
God will use you as well. When you find an opportunity for a blessed event, do all you can to make it happen even if it demands sacrifices. Your sacrifices for God are nothing compared to the joy of Heaven that awaits you. When you live for Jesus, Heaven becomes closer than you think.
(On a side note: Congratulations to St. Mary Catholic Church parishioner Austin Strickland, who will join the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball farm team. See https://highlandcountypress.com/pirates-draft-winchesters-austin-strick… Go, Pirates!)