Mastered by the Master

This year Deacon John Zurek and his wife Connie celebrated ten years since he was ordained a deacon and began serving us at St. Columbkille. He passed away last night. His wake service will be Friday at 7 pm and the funeral will be Saturday, January 5th at 10:00 am.

Here is an excerpt from his homily on Sunday, November 14, 2010 which was the 33rd week in Ordinary Time:

Nothing great is ever accomplished without prayer [and] persistence because in order to be successful our dreams must translate into work. The people who succeed in life are the people who are willing to do what they don't feel like doing. They are not mastered by their moods, they are mastered by the Master. And they establish their goals and plans according to God's will.

We know all things will come to an end. It is part of our very nature of the universe and our place in it. Seasons come and seasons go. Children are born and the elderly pass away. Mornings happens and evening falls. Its all part of the normal process of life and death. If we were called (and we have no guarantee that we won't be called today) could we dare to face our judgement?

Today we have heard Him speak to us. He has reminded us that our end is coming. That we should prepare our spiritual life and get it in order. We all need Him. Our eternal future depends on whether we listen to His call today, tomorrow may be too late.

We are all responsible for some part of life on this planet, for good or for evil. And we all know there is only so much time to accomplish all of this. Each of us is part of that experience of Life and Death around us... Today's Gospel is a great reminder that God's timing is perfect and ours is not...

So my friends, join me today as we all lift up our hearts to the Lord and entrust everything, all times and all seasons, into His loving care.

Amen and may God bless.