On behalf of Fr. Biljue, Fr. Welzabacher, and myself I would like to extend my sincerest condolences today to the family and friends of David Sadowski. In particular to his wife, Jane, his daughter Dona, his two grandsons Nicholas and Brennen, his sister Diane, and his many nieces and nephews. He will be deeply missed by all of us who knew him.
In today’s Gospel, the famous account of the Beatitudes, Jesus tell us that our light must shine out before others, so that they may see our good deeds, and glorify our Heavenly Father. St. Jose Maria Escriva says this in another way. He tells us that our lives are like a rock thrown into the water. At first there is one circle. Eventually this circle grows, touches other ripples, and influences them. He continues by saying that our words and example produce one such ripple which then produce another and another, each one wider than the last. By leading a holy life, and doing God’s will to best of our ability we fulfill what Jesus expects of each one of us, to positively influence those we come in contact with. What God has given us we must, in turn, give to others.
I believe that Dave fulfilled this command of Jesus in many ways. The single ripple created at his birth expanded over his life time, growing ever larger, and interacting with so many others. After his schooling he met, fell in love with, and married his wife Jane. They were married just short of 36 years (which would have been next month). They were married at St. Casimir’s Church on the East Side of St. Paul, and had one daughter, Dona. They have two grandsons, Nicholas and Brennen and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Dave was a member of the U.S. Navy, serving during the Viet Nam period. He worked many years at the Twin Cities Airport Parking Facility, and just retired a few months ago.
David was deeply involved in his Catholic Faith. He and Jane were members of St. John’s of St. Paul Catholic Church for many years. It was here that they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. Both he and Jane were involved in many activities at that parish. They were in charge of the various decorations of the church at the various times of the liturgical year. This included various altar duties, such as replacing candles, and supplying and watering flowers for the various feast days. I can remember on so many occasions the both of them stepping through the virtual forest of poinsettias at Christmas and Easter lilies at Easter just to give them some needed water.
Dave was also a lector, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, and sang, for a while, in the adult and Gregorian chant choirs. Perhaps his greatest, and most successful accomplishment at St. John’s was the training of the altar boys. He made them a top-notch group who, under his skillful tutelage, were able to serve Sundays and all special feasts in the Catholic liturgical year.
In all of this Dave served the Lord with gladness, coming before him with a joyful song, as the Responsorial Psalm from today tells us.
In so many places Jesus tells that to be his true servant and follower we must accept his invitation to take up our cross and follow him. Dave did this with the devotion and bravery of a true soldier of Christ. He developed the illness that took him from us about 3 years ago.
The many and varied treatments and surgeries he went through gave him a cross that was heavy indeed. Through all of this, however, he remained a man of great faith. He was always close to the Church, the Sacraments, and prayer. He once told me that he often offered his sufferings for the poor souls in Purgatory. Truly there must be many such souls who were helped because of him, and are now praying for him.
At the end time of Dave’s illness God asked Dave to go further, to be crucified with him.
In his final weeks he began to resemble Jesus more and more. As Jesus was disfigured by blows and scourges, Dave was disfigured by his illness. As Jesus had his mother next to his cross Dave had Jane near his. As Jesus had St. John and the faithful women, who remained with him by his cross Dave had his faithful relatives and friends. He was visited in the final days by no less than four priests, and received the great Apostolic Blessing twice. Finally, as Jesus died on his cross, so too did Dave die on his. The suffering of Jesus was completed. So was that of Dave.
The 1st Reading tells us that there is a time to live, and a time to die, and a time to weep. This is that time for Dave and all of us left behind. Our great hope, however, should be in the certain knowledge that one day we will see him again, when our own lives shall end. Then we will never again be separated, or suffer or weep for every tear will be wiped away from our eyes by Jesus himself.
In closing I would like to quote the great St. Augustine who said something that we can apply to Dave.
“If you are caught in the river of time and are drifting down the rapids, you have a choice. Either you may drown in the water or you can catch hold of a tree by the stream to save your life. Similarly, you have a choice in the world. Either you lose the world that passes away with time, or you may hold on to Christ and live eternally with God”.
I believe that we can safely say that Dave is with God.
Eternal rest grant on to him O Lord and let perpetual life shine upon him. May he rest in peace, amen. And may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace amen.
Homily by Deacon Ronald Smisek