The late Paul Harvey was famous for his radio
commentaries and I have used his story entitled “When God Made a Farmer.”
Yesterday, the people of Holy Family invited their relatives, neighbors and
friends from over 20 towns for a Spaghetti Dinner and Raffle to support this
faith community. A record 280 dinners were served and over 90 gift baskets were
donated for the celebration. I was humbled and grateful when one of the autumn
landscape photos was auctioned for $500.
I like to give you a glimpse of the spirit of this humble community with
the following story that begins…
“And on the 8th day, God looked down on his farms in North Java and
said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a disciple of Holy Family.
God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, boil
water, stir the sauce, prepare the meatballs, work all morning in the kitchen, mix
the salad, display the desserts and serve the neighbors taking orders with a
smile for 3 hours and then run home to get more meatballs because we ran out
and listened to complements from people who shared their gratitude for a
delicious meal. So God made a disciple of Holy Family.”
"I need somebody with arms strong to help a neighbor whose house
had burned down that morning and yet gentle enough to hold their own grandchild.
Somebody to call the winning basket numbers, tame cantankerous microphones, wait
on hungry neighbors, have to wait to eat until everyone is served and tell the neighbors
to be sure to come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a disciple
of Holy Family.”
God said, "I need somebody to set up tables and chairs, spread the
tablecloths, decorate with pumpkins and then break them down after standing all
day over hot boiling pot of pasta. I need somebody who can decorate a sanctuary
like an autumn garden, design a basket with chocolates and toys, crave a wooden
bowl or rolling pin from maple and ash, take photos of sunflowers and swans
from a local pond, sell raffle and meal tickets and who can wash pots and pans,
knives and forks, feed the kids and play cards with the ladies. And who, after
harvest season that does not end till the 1st of November will
finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,'
put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a disciple of Holy Family.”
“God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to
get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to
help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a
disciple of Holy Family.”
God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave
bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed
pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a
meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut
corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and
plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and
finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church or sometimes
twenty-five drive to Holy Family to bring the kids to religion class.
"Somebody who'd invites all people, the proud and the humble, the
self-righteous and imperfect, the hypocrite and the gossip, the fearful and
abused to bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who
would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when you feel the
spirit calling you home, the people of Holy Family will welcome your family,
your children and your soul with peace and good will. So God made a disciple of
Holy Family.”
Lord, I pray for all the volunteers of Holy Family
exhausted from a another day spreading the seeds of God’s love. This shepherd
is most grateful and know that you are in my humble, daily prayers for your
family good health.
fr. matt
