Rest In Peace, Harry?

As a long time fan of the Philadelphia Phillies, I was stunned to hear of today’s sudden death of broadcasting legend Harry Kalas. I spent many summer nights listening to my transistor radio as Harry and Richie Ashburn announced the Phillies games. Similar to when Asburn died suddenly in 1997, I feel as if I?ve lost a friend. While not the type of thing that I usually write about in The Catholic Truth blog, Harry?s sudden death teaches a valuable lesson. It makes us realize how temporary this life is and how little control we actually have.

“There was a rich man whose land produced a bountiful harvest. He asked himself, ‘What shall I do, for I do not have space to store my harvest?’ And he said, ‘This is what I shall do: I shall tear down my barns and build larger ones. There I shall store all my grain and other goods and I shall say to myself, “Now as for you, you have so many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry!” But God said to him, ‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’ Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.” He said to (his) disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? Notice how the flowers grow. They do not toil or spin. But I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? (Lk 12:16-28)

In this life, there are things that matter and things that do not matter. I tend to forget that from time to time, but things like this remind me in a hurry. I don?t know if Harry Kalas was ready to meet The Lord today, but I plan to pray for his soul. In addition, I?m going to spend some time tonight and, in the days to come, making sure that I?m ready.