As the dust settles after the National Eucharistic Congress this July, hopefully the fervor does not. I was thinking about tying in the awesome event of the Congress and something else that has great meaning….basketball.
You know there are no coincidences with God, right? The event took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, the Basketball capital of the world. God deigned this for a specific reason. This is actually hard for me to write because I grew up going to the Chicago Stadium and later the United Center watching the greatest player of all time (in case any uninformed person is reading this, that would be Michael Jeffrey Jordan).
As I reflect on the fervor and love for our Lord in the Eucharist, I am reminded of the same type of fervor for basketball that one could witness in Indiana. Heck, when I coached my five sons who played on the same team, we used to watch the movie Hoosiers before every game. There was something magical-bordering-on-idolatry with basketball. Probably something similar to football in Texas, but we won’t get into that here.
The question is, how do we take the fervor people are willing to pour out for a game, and transfer it to the deepest part of our lives, our souls? The story of Hoosiers, the ultimate underdog team, really mirrors us Catholics. I was talking to a former seminary roommate, Fr. Vince Lampert, the current exorcist of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, and he commented that we are no longer living in Christendom times…we are now the underdogs. So, as underdogs, what can we do to win?
First thing, we have to play as a team. Allow me to vent some frustrations. I can’t tell you how many times I have reached out to a Catholic influencer, “celebrity,” or leader of an organization or apostolate asking something simple. Maybe an introduction, advice, or help promoting a good cause, and nothing but crickets. This is a generalization, but many have their own silos, and they rarely venture outside of them. Their donors are sacrosanct, their email list is hallowed (no relation to the app), and their time is for their mission only. I have met those who call themselves “Catholic,” but all I can think about is Inigo Montoya in Princess Bride saying, “I do not think it means what you think it means.”
We have to understand that a rising tide raises all boats. I know steely eyed focus is necessary for success, but not at the expense of not being aware of those in need. We can (and ought to) borrow from our Evangelical and Mormon brothers and sisters when it comes to evangelizing efforts.
Second thing, we need a coach who is willing to take chances and make the hard call. It means doing something even if you know it’s going to cost you. If the star player gets too big for his britches, you sit him on the bench. You may lose the game, but some things are more important than compromise.
When was the last time you heard a homily on contraception, Hell, or Purgatory? Gee, I wonder why that is… Could it have something to do with a word that rhymes with honey?
To end on a positive note, our coaches did an incredible job with the Eucharistic Pilgrimage. This is the courage the players need to see. When we see our general lead the charge into battle, the soldiers will go through fire for him. Please coaches, make the hard calls, take chances…your players will love you for it.
Lastly, there is the temptation to call on fate, and say, “It is just your night.” I would brusquely push back on this. There are a multitude of variables in every game. Every movement, no matter how small, has a purpose and consequence.
One of the greatest college coaches of all time, John Wooden, would break down the game into the smallest of parts. He would even go to the extreme of showing his players how to put on their socks. He would do anything to give his team an advantage. This is where I turn the spotlight on you. All of you reading this—you are the “smallest of parts.” You are the speck of sand in the gears, the unrelenting drip of water, the plant that grows on the stone cliff. Everyone reading this has a part to play in the unfolding of a glorious win for our King.
They say defense wins championships…well, we have been playing defense long enough. It’s time to go on offense. Every conversation, every smile, every prayer has great value, and is a movement that will lead us toward the ultimate victory. This quote from Hoosiers says it all: “Strap, God wants you on the floor.”
Editor’s Note: This author’s novel, Catholic Joe: Superhero, is available on his website.
Photo by Giorgio Trovato on Unsplash
