A sermon on Matthew 10:26-33

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)

Have you ever wondered how God handles all the prayers He receives? With billions of people praying to God, does He hear mine? According to Jesus, the Father hears them all.  

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet, not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows." (Matthew 10:29-31.) 

Everything in your life is important to the Father because you are important to Him. He cares about even the smallest things that life throws at you. Despite billions of people with billions of prayers, this does not weaken His resolve to will the very best for only you. God said in 1 John 5:14, "And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him."

God has this wonderful ability to make all things work to the good. I share with you by permission the story of Bob, a St. Benignus parishioner.

During World War II, my father served as a lance corporal in the U.S. Marines stationed in Panama. One night, he was the sergeant of the guard and was awakened by the sound of machine gun fire in the distance. He immediately mobilized his troops, fearing that the enemy had launched an attack. 

However, when they arrived at the sentry's post where the gunfire was coming from, they found that the guard was firing his weapon wildly into the air at mosquitos that were driving him crazy. My father relieved the guard and took up his place, among the mosquitos. A few days later, my father's unit was scheduled to ship out to the states to prepare for deployment to Europe. However, my father contracted malaria from the mosquitos and was hospitalized. 

The rest of his company deployed on Navy transport ships for Europe. Two days after leaving port, the ships carrying my father's mates were all sunk. Over 1,000 men died. There were no survivors. If my father had not contracted malaria, he would have died.

It's incredible to think that I am here today because of a mosquito bite. Everything in God's creation, no matter how small, no matter how annoying, has a purpose. And every little thing matters." 

I have three beliefs that gives me peace, especially when life's storms toss me around:

1) God watches over me;

2) God cares for me; and

3) God has a plan for me. 

I profoundly thank God for what He did to protect me this past weekend. For the past 24 years, l drive to Pittsburgh to attend the Bela Lugosi Film Festival (aka Monster Bash) at the Marriott Hotel. Over 2,000 people go to this event. I provide the Sunday worship right at the hotel. The Marriott was completely booked so I had to seek lodging elsewhere. I registered and paid for a room many weeks in advance at a motel in Butler, Pa. When I got there, the front desk informed me my reservation was canceled. There were no rooms available. 

I asked, "When did this happen?" 

The clerk said, "today." 

I found out Taylor Swift was performing in Pittsburgh that weekend. My room, which cost only $80 a night weeks ago, was now selling for $300 a night. 

I got "Swifted!"

Fortunately, the Marriott had some cancellations. There was now one room available – for $300 per night. I had to cough up $600 for a room that didn't even have a microwave. I was bummed out by having to spend all that money and I couldn't even heat my Polish pierogies. I told God this was not a good way to treat His friends. 

I did have an enjoyable time renewing friendships with those I hadn't seen in a year. I left Pittsburgh broke, but happy. 

Earlier today (Monday), before writing this sermon, I received a phone call from a friend who attended the bash. He said, "Hey Fr. Mike, guess what? You know that motel that cancelled your reservation? They got a bed-bug infestation. People were running out of there in droves. Thank God you didn't stay there."

Wow. Here I was protesting to God when He was just looking out after me. If I brought those little critters to my rectory, it could have cost thousands of dollars to clean them out. I would even have to throw away some of my rare antique radios. 

With this sermon, I express my deepest gratitude to God. I ask His forgiveness that I acted like a jerk when He was covering my back – instead of the bed bugs!