A sermon on Matthew 9:36-10:8

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

A man came upon a Little League baseball game one afternoon. The game had already started so he asked a boy in the dugout what the score was. The boy responded, “Eighteen to nothing – we’re behind.”  

The spectator said, “I’ll bet you’re discouraged.” 

“I'm not discouraged” replied the little boy. “We haven’t gotten to bat yet.”

I admire the little boy's hope. There are two words that describe what we have all experienced in life. "Life hurts."

Sometimes life hurts so much we feel lost without hope that things will get better. I was visiting sick kids at Children's Hospital when I saw a man at the end of a hallway. He was leaning his back against the wall, staring down at the floor, looking completely dejected. 

I asked, "Can I help you?" 

He lifted his head, looking right at me. He shared his hurt. "I awoke this beautiful Sunday morning intending to paint my garage door. Just a normal day of doing chores around the house. Then my daughter became very ill later that morning so my wife and I took her to Children's Hospital. They ran some tests. My little girl has leukemia. In the morning, everything was fine. By afternoon, my daughter is in the fight for her life. I can't believe this." 

He agreed to let me pray with him for her healing.

Jesus told His disciples to proclaim, "The Kingdom of Heaven draws near." God's Kingdom draws near to you when you hurt. The Kingdom reveals its power when "the sick are cured, the dead come alive, lepers are cleansed, and demons are driven away."  

If Matthew 10:8 were written today, it might read like this: "leukemia and cancer are curable, those who faced certain death can now live through the gift of organ donations, people infected with deadly diseases are cleansed, and the demon of addiction is cast out through the power of God."

On your journey to God, there comes a moment when you become more than a disciple of Jesus. You also are called to be an apostle for Jesus. A disciple is a follower of Jesus. An apostle is a messenger, sent by Jesus. A disciple lives by faith in Jesus. An apostle proclaims their faith in Jesus. Jesus will empower you to be an apostle. He gives you authority to help others where they hurt. Jesus calls you to show the same compassion He showed to those who felt abandoned, sad, and hopeless.  

The Covid quarantine was so difficult for residents in nursing homes. My mother lived for her family. She became despondent when her nursing home could not allow families to visit. She sat alone in her room alone for several weeks. Mom was getting sicker, giving up her will to live. The nurses became depressed as they were separated from their families during the quarantine. 

My sister, Michelle, knew something had to be done to lift their spirits. She contacted other families and friends with a unique plan. They organized a parade. Signs were made offering messages of love, encouraging them not to lose heart. A band played music as they marched around the building with balloons. Nurses and residents ran to the windows to watch this display of affection. 

Sad faces turned into smiles. My sisters and father sat outside mom's window, talking to her through the glass. Mom was so happy. After many weeks, the quarantine was lifted and family visits resumed. Shortly after visits resumed mom got Covid. Her 97 year old body was too frail to fight it. She passed with her beloved daughters by her side. I am grateful to God she did not die alone. My sister Michelle became an apostle, sent to relieve the hurt of loneliness.

Jesus sends out His disciples to proclaim the Good News of His Love. Jesus gives you authority to lift up people's spirits above the hurt, to help them see Jesus healing your broken spirit. When you pray that Jesus help the hurting, He makes you the answer to the prayer you just said. I pray for that father's daughter who has leukemia. 

Jesus has already answered my prayer by sending to him the best doctors who can cure her. I hope to be a part of the answer by sharing with that father the key to unlocking God's healing power – faith. "God's part is to put forth power. Our part is to put forth faith." (Andrew Bonar.) Blessings to you.