Homily on So Far Away by Martin Garrix
Here is the preview of Fr. Rossi’s homily about the song So Far Away by Martin Garrix:
Big Feis, Bright Light Homily
Light ’em up, light ‘em up
Tell me where you are
Summer nights, bright lights
And the shootin’ star.
So Far Away
One of the things I love about Martin Garrix’s song “So Far Away” is that it’s all about light in the darkness.
It’s all about hope where there appears to be none.
“Baby, in the dark, show me where you are.”
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The song is over the top romantic.
“Tell me there’s a river I can swim that will bring me back to you.”
The guy has faith even though he and his girl are going through rough times.
He believes their relationship can survive.
He’s still holding onto the promise that they can salvage their love, if they stay faithful to one another.
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I would call that a shot in the dark.
And I would call him an optimist: an optimist who is going to do all he can to save what they have because, as he says, “we’re worth it.”
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There are many words that could also be used to describe Aaron Feis.
He was selfless, giving, loyal--and an optimist.
And, when it came to his everyday life with the people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he believed they were all worth it.
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Coach Feis had a total presence there that both athletes and non-athletes knew and loved.
That presence was so big, so all-encompassing, that it extended even beyond the school walls to the Parkland, Florida, community itself.
He was everywhere, for everyone, even in dark times, because everyone was worth it.
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In TV interviews, not one friend or former player expressed surprise that Coach Feis ran toward the gunfire and took a bullet for the students at his school.
After all, it was the place where he played football, graduated in 1999, and returned to help the community he loved.
The people being interviewed want everyone to know: This is who Aaron Feis was—every minute, every day.
He was someone who never stopped caring.
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Feis, a school security guard and assistant football coach at his alma mater, was one of 17 people killed in the Ash Wednesday shootings at Stoneman Douglas.
But, in another way, he was unique.
He died shielding students from the gunfire, just as he had shielded them for years from other possible misfortunes.
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Feis—nobody ever called him Aaron—was a loving father and husband and coach.
In fact, he was a lot more than a coach, especially to kids at-risk.
His colleagues and friends say Feis always thought about others more than he thought about himself.
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College recruiters always got to know Feis, because he made it his business to know them.
He wanted his players to find opportunities to keep playing.
He spent countless hours making highlight DVDs for any player who'd ask.
He did this on his own time, on the same meager salary he made as a school security guard.
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Feis would say to a college coach about one of his players, "Here's a DVD of a player who needs help.
“If he doesn't fit at your school, Coach, could you please talk to other colleagues and help him find a home?"
Over the years, Feis helped get at least 70 players into college who might have fallen through the cracks.
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One friend said of Feis, "Before you even heard how he died, you knew he died putting himself in harm's way to save somebody else.
“That's who he was.
"He was always doing that.
“He died running toward danger while others were running away from it.”
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Head coaches had come and gone from Parkland but there was only one constant.
“Big Feis.”
Kids would do more for Feis, because they never wanted to let him down.
And, to the end, Feis never deserted them.
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"I am the good shepherd [who] lays down his life for the sheep."
John 10:11-18
Have you ever seen a Good Shepherd in football cleats?
Parkland, Florida did!
Christ the Good Shepherd is among us because of people like Coach Feis.
Their everyday cura personalis enable them to "lay down their lives" for anyone entrusted to their care.
They know that in Christ we belong to one another.
They know we’re here to serve.
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This Good Shepherd Sunday, let’s give thanks for the loving courage of Coach Feis and all those who have laid down their lives for others.
Let’s ask God for one simple grace: to give of ourselves to those in need.
Let’s light up our dark, dark world!
