Actually, I'm feeling about 1000% better than I did a few weeks ago. I've
cut back on my medication as I don't seem to need the muscle relaxer and
high potency pain killers that I once needed. I'll meet with the
neurosurgeon on August 10 in Sayre. Betcha he starts by telling me to lose
50 lbs.

Another great few days at Chautauqua. I'll return on Friday after a fairly
busy week here in Bath. Next weekend Pat's family (The Best Family - or so
they claim) meets for a family reunion at Letchworth State Park. I'll be
attending with Pat and then head back to Chautauqua for a few days.

This week I'm sending my homily based on this weekends scriptures including
the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes (Matthews Gospel).

Blessings to all . . .

My Sent to Serve column this week can be accessed by clicking the image to the right. . Click the image to the right for our printable column (Adobe PDF file, plugin needed)

July 31 , 2005

My homily for the 18th Sunday of Ordinary time.

A18ORD - 57 CENTS + Lot from a Little

A sobbing little girl stood near a small church
from which she had been turned away because
'it was too crowded'.

"I can't go to Sunday School,"
she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance,
the pastor guessed the real reason that
"there was no room for her."

Taking her by the hand, he took her inside
and found a place for her in the Sunday School class.

The child was so touched that
she went to bed that night thinking of the children
who have no place to worship God.
_________________________

Some two years later, this child lay dead
in one of the poor tenement buildings.
Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor,
who had befriended their daughter,
to handle the girls funeral arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved,
a worn and crumpled purse was found -
which seemed to have been
rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and
a note scribbled in childish handwriting which read,

"This is to help build the little church bigger
so more children can go to Sunday school."

For two years she had saved for this offering of love.

When the pastor tearfully read that note,
he knew instantly what he would do.
Carrying this note and the
cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit,
he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion.

He challenged his parishioners to get busy
and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there!
A newspaper learned of the story and published it.

It was read by a Realtor
who offered them a parcel of land
worth many thousands.
When told that the church could not pay so much,
he offered it for a 57 cents.

Church members made large pledges.
Checks came from far and wide.

Within five years the little girl's gift
had increased to $250,000.00 -
a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century).

Over time, the girl's unselfish love
paid large dividends.

. The Temple Baptist Church in Philadelphia,
with a seating capacity of 3,300,
. Temple University where hundreds of students
are trained
. Good Samaritan Hospital
. And a huge Sunday School building so that
. no child would ever need to be left outside . . .
were all the result of that young girl's gift of 57 cents.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We could look at today's Gospel
and marvel at the miracle of the loaves and fish
And say, "Wow - that Jesus sure did work a big miracle."

We could read the reading from Isaiah and say . . .
"How wonderful that the Lord invites the poor and thirsty and hungry
to come to Him."

We could read Paul's letter to the Romans and say . . .
"Isn't it wonderful that
nothing can separate us from God's love."

But there is an even deeper message in today's scripture.
It is our power - to transform the world -
no matter how insignificant our gifts may appear to us.

. Jesus took the insignificant lunch of a young boy
to feed 5000.

. The pastor took the insignificant 57-cent gift of a young girl and
used it to significantly and permanently change a community.

. Your seemingly insignificant word of praise,
inspires a child to believe in herself.

. Your simple invitation, encourages someone to join or return to our
parish community.

. Your simple communion visit to a homebound parishioner re - members
him or her with the parish community.

. Your card or telephone call of encouragement,
arrives at a time its most needed.

Seemingly insignificant actions -
continue the miraculous work of Jesus
touching and transforming lives.

For whenever people act with compassion
and bring forth their gifts -
Insignificant as the gifts
may seem to the donor -
. God is powerfully present
. and the miracle of love happens.

And no-one - but God -
fully knows - the impact
that gift,
that act of compassion,
has on the world.

I ended with one of my children's songs including a new 3rd verse.

A Lot from a Little

Refrain:
If you only have a little, You're gonna have a lot,
If you give-what-you've-got to Jesus,
And put it in His hands.
For the Lord takes your little, and uses it to make,
A lot from a little, when you put it in his hands.
A lot from a little, when you put it in his hands.

At the wedding feast at Cana, the groom ran out of wine.
All they had was water - but Jesus said "That's fine."
He blessed what was brought him - and what do you think?
The water turned to really great wine - for everyone to drink.
Refrain

One day someone approached him - who had been sick for years.
"If only I could touch him - I know that I'd be cured."
When Jesus felt her presence - he cured her on the spot.
When Jesus sees a little faith - he makes it a-lot. Refrain

One day Jesus was preachin' - but dinner time was near
5000 hungry people - but no McDonald's there
A boy gave him the food he had - two fish and loaf of bread
So Jesus blessed and broke - and everyone was fed.
Refrain

On the night before he suffered - Jesus gathered with his friends.
And he said The Holy Spirit would come to them and then . . .
He took some bread and wine and blessed it - so that they might see,
That God would take our little gifts - and give us all we need.
Refrain

C1994, 2005 Deacon Ray Defendorf, Celebrate Life Songs. All rights
reserved

Have a good week. Serve one another well.

I pray that you will enjoy this visit, and if you like,
                                          E-Mail me with your comments

.