In 1997, I heard an excellent homily by Msgr. James McGovern at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in Moorestown, NJ. He was speaking about the recent deaths of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana and made the point that while one died young and one died old, that was what was supposed to happen. ?Some people are tall and some are short, some are thin and some are heavy, some die young and some die old?, said Msgr. McGovern. In other words, God really is in charge?people don?t die too soon or live too long.

While it?s difficult to understand why a 46 year old husband would be taken suddenly from his wife and children, it?s also difficult to understand why the Son of God would be murdered on a cross. Sometimes it?s ok to not understand. We aren?t God and shouldn?t try to figure everything out. Sometimes things just don?t make sense.

Please say a prayer for the repose of the soul of Lou and Alma and for the families that they leave behind. Even though they lived a different number of years, both were very good people and their deaths leave a void in many lives.

Each of us has some unique talent that can be used to advance the Kingdom of God. I?m sure that Matthew didn?t think he was a gifted evangelist and author, but with God?s help all things are possible. Why not ask the Lord how you can assist Him? Jesus will not force you. He simply says, ?Follow me?. Matthew said ?Yes??What will you say?

“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” (Lk 8: 5-8)

He then explains the meaning of the parable:

“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.? (Lk 8: 11-15)

When you hear this story, to which individual do you relate? If you?re like me, you can relate to several of these people throughout the course of your life. There have been times where I?ve received the word joyfully, but fell away when times got tough. At other times, anxieties and riches caused me to forget all about the Lord?s teachings. There have also been times, thankfully, when I?ve embraced the word and allowed it to bear fruit in my life. While many of you will relate to these situations, have you ever thought about being the sower?

While I suspect that the answer is ?no?, I urge you to give it some thought. As Catholics, we are all called to spread the Good News to the entire world. The fact that we?re afraid that people won?t listen or won?t like you doesn?t take away that responsibility. Ask the Lord for the grace to be a sower of His word and you may be surprised at the results. He will probably use you in ways that you never dreamed possible!

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.? (Mt 6:19-21)