A sermon on Matthew 16:13-19

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

Do you feel exhausted as I do with all the changes in our church family? What a daunting task it is to consolidate four churches (St. Mary Hillsboro, St. Benignus Greenfield, Mary Queen of Heaven Peebles and Holy Trinity West Union) into one church. 

The Mass times have completely changed, learning to work with new parishioners, struggling to create one Parish Council to care for the needs of each church, and getting to know two new young priests who will take over July 1. 

Parishioners worry, "Will my church close?" 

Jesus has the answer to those who fear the future. 

"I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18.) Jesus is making a very powerful statement about His church that offers hope for our church today. What does Jesus mean when He said, "the gates of hell?"

The "hell" Jesus talks about is not the hell we think of. It's not the place where the Satan lives in eternal flames. If Jesus meant this "hell" He would have used the word "Gehenna." 

Instead, Jesus said, "Hades." Hades is simply the place where souls of the dead go. The gate of Hades is death. That's the only way to get in.   
                                                                                              
Jesus is saying the gates of death will never prevail against the church He has built. Why? Because Jesus has destroyed death by rising from the dead. Jesus said in Revelation 1:18 says. “I am the Living One. I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Jesus has the victory over death which can never destroy His church.

What does this teaching of Jesus mean for our churches in Our Lady of the Hills Family? It means this: "Keep the faith."

St. Paul said, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7.)

St. Paul believed in and trusted Jesus when it was difficult to do so. Be optimistic in facing challenges by being hopeful that everything works for the good of those who trust God. Faith is the light that guides you to where God wants you to be. God wants you to be steadfastly supporting the churches in our family with your time, treasure and talents. Two things can bring death to our churches: despair and anger. 

Don't do that.

I feel sad that I can no longer walk with you on the journey to Heaven. God has called me on another journey to help families with sick children to keep the faith. I believe God gives special signs to those who suffer. 

I performed a funeral for a grieving widow married to her husband, George, for 60 years. In the sermon, I expressed the hope she would see her beloved again. The thought popped into my mind the theme song for Roy Rogers, "Happy Trails." 

His wife, Dale Evans, wrote the song on a napkin in a restaurant as she waited for her food to be served. An inner voice spoke to me, "Michael, sing that song." 

I was very hesitant to do that. It seemed corny. The voice became more insistent, "Sing it!" So I sang it. 

The widow gave me this startled look. I was afraid she disapproved. After the service ended, the widow was very insistent that I come to her home ASAP.

She greeted me at her door. 

She said, "Please come with me." 

She took me to a door, which she opened. I was in awe of what was inside. It was a large room filled with all types of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans memorabilia. Pictures of Roy and his family, figurines and dolls, plastic models of their horses Trigger and Buttermilk, and magazines strewn all over the place. 

She said, "You did not know this, but my husband had a deep love of Roy and Dale. He met them several times. They personally autographed pictures of them together with George. George serenaded me by singing "Happy Trails" a million times. When you sang the song, I felt like he was singing it one more time through you. I thank God that He gave me a sign my George is OK." 

Here are the lyrics of "Happy Trails to you:"

Happy trails to you, until we meet again
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather
Happy trails to you, till we meet again.

These verses offer us advice:

Some trails are happy ones
Others are blue
It's the way you ride the trail that counts
Here's a happy one for you

Whatever trail you ride on, ride on a horse called "Faith."

Good bye...Fr. Mike.