JANUARY 21, 2017
4:30 PM (SAT), 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM ORDINARY FORM (ENGLISH) MASSES
The NBA season started back in October, and will continue into June. Our own school league and CYO leagues are either in or almost done with playoffs. And so, whether you’re just clicking through the channels, or if you have a son or daughter in a league … basketball is in the air.
Knowing that the nuances of success in any sport are multi-faceted, I would suggest that there are four factors that contribute to winning in basketball.
First is practice. Whether its free throws or layups or three-pointers … it takes a lot of practice to be able to be consistent under pressure.
Second is coaching. A good coach is important to build on strengths, but also to work on weaknesses.
Third is focus. This is the mental game. But if every sideline movement becomes a distraction to a player, that player’s performance is going to suffer.
Finally, league play means joining a team. While there are countless opportunities for pick-up games or one-on-one play … in order to play in the big leagues – or any league for that matter – requires being part of a team.
Practice. Coaching. Focus. Teamwork. Four pillars of success in sports, and possibly success in just about anything.
Today is the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time.
In the book of Jonah, we hear a summarized version of the story. I think most of us know the entire story – Jonah is called, Jonah runs the other way, Jonah is swallowed by a fish, Jonah repents, and Jonah follows his call.
In other words, Jonah struggles – like most of us, I was guess – to put into practice his beliefs. He believes in God, and is fine applying his faith to himself. But when God nudges him toward sharing his belief, he hops the first boat elsewhere.
Practicing our faith in a public way is difficult at first. But our faith demands a response – more than just 45 minutes a week. And whether you know it or not, God is calling you to practice your faith more deeply.
The Psalm response we recited said: “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” It is important that we realize that God is the source of our Faith. This isn’t a do-it-yourself sort of thing.
Our faith has been handed down over thousands of years, and we need to constantly learn – or be coached – by the Holy Spirit, or perhaps another person, or through books and media – to fully grasp the depth, breadth, and height of the Faith.
In the reading from first Corinthians, St. Paul admonishes his listeners – and us – to not be distracted by the things of this world. Rather we are to focus on the things of God … and our eternal future.
Too often we lose our focus on God and are inundated by what is going on around us … and it is important to work on preserving that focus on God and God alone.
In the Gospel we hear the call of the fishermen. Jesus tells them “Follow me.” And for ourselves, every day, God is calling us to follow Him. And every time, we have that choice to follow or wander off.
So, similar to the four pillars of success in basketball: Practice. Coaching. Focus. Teamwork. Today’s readings admonish and encourage us to Practice our Faith, Learn from God the things of God. Focus on our relationship with God and keeping God at the center of our life. And finally, being part of God’s team – that is, not only “the” Church, but a local community of believers as well.
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, let us listen to His call on our lives … and respond in a way that will guarantee our spiritual success. As members of His body, let us serve God as a team, remaining focused on Him, deepening our knowledge and love of Him, and practicing our Faith in everything we do throughout the week.
Special thanks to St. Apollinaris CYO players, coaches, and parents
for your support of the CYO Mass on Saturday evening. God bless you!
