A sermon on John 6:60-69

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
St. Mary Catholic Church
St. Benignus Catholic Church 
St. Mary Queen of Heaven
and Holy Trinity Catholic Church

My father had a strong devotion to Jesus as a child. There is a famous statue of the Divine Child Jesus made of wood, dressed in royal robes and a king's crown. It is called the Infant of Prague, named after the city where it now resides with the Sisters of Carmel nuns for 400 years. 

The nuns had to flee the city due to war in 1628. Needing to flee quickly to save their lives, they were not able to take the statue. The conquering soldiers found the statue in the nun's chapel, seized it and threw it away. In 1637, peace once again came to Prague. The nuns could return to their convent. But where was the statue made to honor the Child Jesus?

A priest, Fr. Cyril, went looking for it. He found it in a pile of garbage behind the main altar desecrated by the previous conquerors. Joy filled his heart as he held the statue but saddened that the hands of Jesus were broken off. As Fr. Cyril lovingly held the statue in his hands, the Child Jesus appeared to him and spoke these words: "Give Me My hands, and I will give you peace. The more you honor Me, the more I will bless you.” The statue was restored including the hands of Jesus. Devotion to the Holy Infant spread throughout the world. For almost 100 years a replica of this statue adorns the sanctuary of St. Mary Catholic Church in Hillsboro. 

Jesus says in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life." What does this mean? I will now use my father's story and his devotion to the Holy Infant Jesus to explain. 

My father was promoted in 1970 to VP of Production for H.H. Robertson Air Systems at their new plant in Batavia. The company rewarded him for 24 years of loyal service in Pittsburgh. He relocated to a nice home with my mom, happy with the financial and personal rewards of his promotion. Sadly, it would all come crashing down. 

In 1985, the company closed. My father was now a 60-year-old man with no income nor job for the first time in his life. Who would hire a 60-year-old? He couldn't receive Social Security for another two years.

My father turned to the one person who never let him down – Jesus. He said fervent prayers to the Holy Child. My father told me, "I kept my faith in Jesus. I put myself in His hands. Where else could I go but Him?"

Dad pounded the pavement for weeks looking for work. He never had to do this before as he worked steadily since he was 20. It was so discouraging. He was rejected over and over again because he was "overqualified." But he didn't give up looking or give up on Jesus. 

One day he went for an interview at Ellis and Watts, builders of trailers that house mobile Xray machines. He said, "It was humiliating being interviewed by some guy 30 years younger than me who obviously didn't know anything about the job." 

My father was seeking a job as a simple purchasing agent. Once again, he heard the words, "overqualified." Dad dejectedly rose from his chair ready to leave. The interviewer yelled, "wait" and said, "Please don't leave. You're overqualified for the job you applied for, but you are very qualified for a position we desperately need filled – plant manager." 

The president of the company personally interviewed Dad and hired him on the spot. The president said to my father, "You're so perfect for this job it's like you just plopped down from Heaven." 

Dad replied, "No, I'm trying to get there." 

Dad worked at Ellis and Watts for the next 10 years. He retired at 70. But they called him out of retirement because the new plant manager messed up so badly. And who was this incompetent plant manager who replaced my father? The young guy who interviewed my father 10 years earlier.

The story of my father is a witness to the power of unwavering faith. Our journey to God is a road with many potholes. Fill those potholes with faith so you won't fall into worry, fear and doubt. If you do fall, the hands of the Infant Jesus are always reaching out to lift you up. When you completely believe in Jesus, you will see the power of His Spirit working in your life on earth. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28.)

God's purpose for you is to live your life in Heaven. Give honor to God now by believing in His Son who will hand over to you eternal life. Then Jesus will hand over to you His Spirit of peace. In the hands of Jesus are so many blessings that await those who honor Him.