A sermon on Colossians 1:24-28

By Fr. Mike Paraniuk
HCP columnist

The Bible says we should rejoice in suffering. I have never been to a party to celebrate suffering. 

Yet, the Bible says many times we should do just that – be happy in times of struggle. St. Paul says emphatically "Now I rejoice in my sufferings." (Colossians 1:24.) 

St. James wrote, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds." (James 1:2.)

Why should we be joyful? Because God can use those sufferings to reveal His love, His power and His presence in your life. Our joy is based on faith that "for those who love God, all things work together for good." (Romans 8:28.) I experienced this truth last week.

God taught me there is precious treasure hidden in our crosses. I celebrate Mass every Tuesday and Wednesday for the Shepherds of Christ, a lay religious community located in a small town called China in Indiana. There sits a large church secluded in a valley surrounded by tall, wooded hills in the middle of nowhere. There are more chickens than there are people. 

What I fear happened while driving home. The tire pressure warning light came on. My back tire was quickly losing pressure. I desperately had to get off any exit on I-275 lest I get stuck on side of the highway and get run over. I limped in on a flat tire at the Shell station in Taylor Mill, Ky. 

I sat in my car feeling helpless and anxious. How am I going to get home? The new cars today don't come with a spare tire. The words of St. Teresa of Avila came to mind when she fell into muddy water, "Lord, if this is the way you treat your friends no wonder you have so few!"

Then I remembered. I have Triple A. They sent out a tow truck that towed me all the way to Tire Discounters near Batavia. The tow driver was a burly guy with a long beard and dressed in a flannel shirt. I hopped into his truck and off we went. He said, "This truck has special air conditioning called hillbilly air. Just roll down your window." 

Danny and I got to talking when he asked me, "What do you do for a living?" 

I told him, "I am a Catholic priest." 

He asked, "Are you a preacher?" 

I said, "Yes."

He replied, "I never met one of your kind before. You seem pretty normal." I thought that was maybe a compliment so I thanked him.

Knowing I was a priest gave him confidence to open up to me. During the next 40 minutes, he poured out the pain in his life. And there was a lot of it. His son is addicted to drugs. He struggles to afford food and buy medicine for his sick wife. He said, "Sometimes I don't eat so I'll have enough money to buy medicine for my wife. If I didn't work 60 hours a week, we would not make it." 

I replied, "Danny, never forget "who" you are and "whose" you are. Who you are is a child of God who loves you just like you love your son and wife. Whose you are is God's Himself. You belong to God. You have not abandoned your family when they need you. God will never abandon you when you need Him. Believe that."

Danny thanked me before leaving. "You Catholic preachers are pretty good." 

I replied, "Danny, you're pretty good too." I thought to myself, "That man is a saint. He just doesn't know it."

That day was a holy day. God revealed His presence in a dirty tow truck cooled only by hillbilly air. It was worth the $1,300 I spent on four new Michelin tires. God told me, "Go buy a spare."