AUGUST 24-25, 2019
5:00 PM (SAT),9:00 AM, 10:30 AM (SUN) ORDINARY FORM MASSES
Born in 1895 on the Keweenaw Peninsula in the northernmost reaches of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Notre Dame halfback, George “the Gipper” Gipp, (number 66) was the university’s first Walter Camp All-American.
He originally intended to play baseball, but was recruited by the legendary Knute Rockne, despite having zero experience playing football.
“The Gipper” led the Fighting Irish in rushing and passing for each of his last three seasons, and his career rushing yards (2,341 yds) remained a record for over half a century. Gipp remains Notre Dame’s all-time leader in average yards per rush for one season, career average yards per play of total offense, and career average yards per game of total offense.
Two weeks after being named All-American, he died from pneumonia and strep throat. Penicillin wouldn’t be discovered for another eight years, and what are now simple infections were often fatal, even in the cases of healthy, young adults.
Rockne used the story of “the Gipper” to motivate his team to beat Army in a 1928 upset.
According to the 1940s movie, Knute Rockne: All-American, the famous deathbed quote of George Gipp was,
I've got to go, Rock. It's all right. I'm not afraid. Some time, Rock, when the team is up against it, when things are wrong and the breaks are beating the boys, ask them to go in there with all they've got and win just one for the Gipper. I don't know where I'll be then, Rock. But I'll know about it, and I'll be happy.Today is the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time.
At the end of the second reading, from the end of the Letter to the Hebrews, the author gives a spiritual pep-talk of sorts:
discipline … brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it. So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees. Make straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.In the Gospel, Jesus answers a question with a parable. When asked,
Lord, will only a few people be saved?Jesus responds with:
Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.The Greek word, translated here as “strive” is agōnizomai (ἀγωνίζομαι) – which is where we get the English word “agonize” or “agony.” The Greek word means to enter a contest, to contend with opponents or difficulties and dangers, to endeavor with strenuous zeal, to compete for a prize.
Considering His choice of words, one might posit that Our Lord is addressing acedia – that is, spiritual sloth. It is often too easy for us to approach the spiritual life on cruise control … treating it as some sort of an afterthought … certainly not as important as … well, any number of things that seem to get in the way.
Yet, Salvation requires a certain fight against temptations and sin. Elsewhere, St. Paul reminds us to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling.”
We should be zealously straining toward the prize – the eternal prize – of Salvation in Christ.
And like any training, we must be vigilant. And as we heard in the first reading from Isaiah 66, we are likewise called to “proclaim [God’s] glory among the nations … [and] bring all [our] brothers and sisters from all [the ends of the earth.]”
As we approach this altar to receive the Sacred Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ – let us heed the words of the opening Collect of todays’ Mass and “love what [God] command[s] and to desire what [God] promise[s], that, amid the uncertainties of this [passing] world, our hearts may be fixed on that [eternal] place where true gladness [and joy] is [ever] found.”
