“Who do you say?”
messageofhope | Reflection | Sunday June 20 2010Integrating Faith and Sports
Gospel: Lk 9:18-24
Week of 6/20/10
In this past week’s Gospel, Jesus asks us “Who do you say that I am?”
Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’” Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Christ of God.” He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone. He said, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” Lk 9: 18-24
“Who do you say that I am?”
I often wonder if I were sitting among the disciples, how would I answer the question, “But who do you say that I am?” Even in my life today, as a self identified Christian who attends church on a weekly basis, how would I answer this question? I know that the answer would be the same as it was when I was a 10 year old boy in my religious education class, as being the Son of God, the Christ. Yet my understanding of what that meant was no where near what it is today and even my understanding of what being “the Christ” means to me today is no where near the full understanding of its Truth. It truly is a journey and process of coming to “the table” to understand His Truth.
Yet as I reflect on what it does mean to me today, I know that my understanding of who “the Christ” is can’t be understood without identifying, contemplating, and carrying my daily “cross.” In other words there is no resurrection without the suffering and rejection, so there is no sense of freedom within my soul without an acknowledgement, recognition, and accepting of my daily “cross.” As St. Paul suggests, “We preach Christ crucified.” During these times I find myself asking a fundamental basic question. Who do I say that I am? This fundamental question usually challenges all of my illusions, my dreams, my actions, and my thoughts. The answer being, an identity baptized into Christ, yet the challenge being what this looks like in all of the roles of my life.
I am a Father
Celebrating Father’s Day this past week, I thought it was a good time to reflect on this particular role in my life. If I were to ask my young son who I am, what would he say? If my dad were to ask me who he was, what would my answer be? What words would I use? What emotions would come to the surface? What pains would be present? What cherished memories would I relive?
I got a Father’s Day card on Sunday from my parents that had a quote on the front of it stating “Fathering is not something perfect men do, but something that perfects a man.” This quote immediately made me think of this Gospel. Becoming a father has been nothing but a blessing that is full of grace. It has brought a deep seeded love that I have never felt before that is full of joy and fulfillment. Yet the true grace of becoming a father wasn’t felt until I experienced the times of discomfort, the times of resisted self-sacrifice, and the times of it being not about me. To be called a father is one that is filled with tremendous joy and fun, yet it’s fullness of truth is one that is also filled with sometimes giving up on your wants and dreams. Here lies the sacrifice that is full of grace. As Jesus tells us, to call him “Christ,” is not without sacrifice, pain, or suffering. To be called father by my son and soon to be next child brings me great joy, and also great sacrifice.
You are Coach…
In a culture that has sports on its center stage, what does it mean to be called coach? More so, what does it mean to be a coach in a program that is rooted in the Gospels? If we were to ask our players who we are, what would they say? What does the word coach mean to us? What emotions come to the surface? What memories do we have attached to this role? Some of these questions surface for me when I think of “who I am” in the context of a coach on the field. In the fullness of the Truth, what crosses are we asked to bear when we have the whistle around our neck? What pains and wounds do we bring to the surface when we speak to our teams after losing the big game or winning the big game?
Sports provide a wonderful template to teach about whom “the Christ” is and who we are in Him. He is someone that is with you in the big wins and the losses. The One that doesn’t take away sacrifice or suffering, but carries you through it.
I think one of the best sports moments of the year that illuminates this Gospel for me came during the 2010 Super Bowl. With over one hundred and six million people watching, cameras flashing, and crowd screaming, the high-point of one’s professional career, there was Matt Stover, the kicker for the Indianapolis Colts lining up for a field goal to put his team up 20-16 with about 10 minutes to go in the Super Bowl. After kicking the ball and watching it sail right, missing the attempted field goal, Matt Stover looks up into the sky and gives a point to God. Matt Stover’s faith in God wasn’t dependent solely on his successes. “The Christ of God” is someone who is there when you win the game as much as He is there when we lose the game. He is always present. The realization of this Truth, the realization of our crosses that we must bear, is a process and journey both on and off of the athletic fields.
I have learned when contemplating on “the Christ,” I find myself a work in progress. A work in progress in the many roles of my life. And “the work” is very much related to the crosses that I bear, both on and off of the fields. Yet like St. Paul says, “We preach Christ crucified.” And for that unfathomable love and grace found on the cross for us, we have the courage to pick up our crosses today along with our whistles and or diapers, and walk on…because “The love of Christ leaves (me) no choice.”
“The message is gripping. Show a man his failures without Jesus, and the result will be found in the roadside gutter. Give a man religion without reminding him of his filth, and the result will be arrogance in a three piece suit. But get the two in the same heart-get sin to meet Savior and Savior to meet sin-and the result just might be another Pharisee turned preacher who sets the world on fire.” Max Lucado
