I just finished watching a series on Netflix called “Quarterbacks”. The 8 episode series focuses on following three quarterbacks in the NFL during the 2022 season. Marcus Mariota of the Atlanta Falcons, Kirk Cousins of the Minnesota Vikings and Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. The series highlights the struggles that each experience in their professional and personal lives during the course of a rigorous season. Each manages the challenges in their own way. Each with varying degrees of focus on their careers and relationships with family…and faith.
Kirk Cousins has been in the NFL for 11 years and has had modest success with the 2022 season his best in terms of stats and team record. Winning the division title. He did not achieve his goal of getting to the Super Bowl but earned the respect of his coaches, teammates and fans. He was awarded the Bart Starr Trophy at the end of the season given to the player who “best exemplifies outstanding character and leadership in the home, on the field, and in the community.” In his acceptance speech he made the distinction between the success achieved on the field and his faith life:
“Football will one day end. Life is based on much more than football. But one thing that can’t be taken from me is my personal relationship with Jesus”
Despite not achieving the pinnacle reward in football, the Super Bowl Championship, Cousins did enjoy his share of material success as do most starting quarterbacks in the NFL. To be sure he has enjoyed fame and monetary success. But not to the point where he has forgotten where his life is ultimately headed.
In today’s first reading from second Corinthians, Paul tells us:
“So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.“
Paul, as we all know, was Saul. He was admired by the Jewish community for his zeal in pursuing and condemning Christians. He was “successful” in his mission to end this new “cult”. But the old Saul ended on the road to Damascus and the new Paul emerged with new zeal to follow Christ and spread the Gospel. This new life led to suffering throughout the remainder of his life. In fact, 2nd Corinthians was written to defend himself against those who criticized his mission. The Hellenists (Greeks) mocked him since they saw his wounds and scars as signs of shame and weakness. But for Paul they were a sign that he was living for Christ.
The love of Christ impels us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
Today is the feast day of Mary Magdalene or Mary of Magdala. Mary was called the Apostle to the Apostles. Her love and dedication to The Lord is evident throughout the Gospels. But she was not always so. Some say, though others debate, that she led a life of prostitution. In The Chosen she is seen momentarily drifting back to her old life of drinking and gambling before Jesus calls her back in love and forgiveness.
This scene is one of my favorites from the season. She is confronted by Nicodemus after Jesus has healed Mary of the demons that had possessed her. Nicodemus at first believes he was responsible for the cure. Mary corrects him and reveals the true source of her transformation:
Her final words to Nicodemus: “Now I am completely different”
From Mary, to Paul and even to Kirk Cousins. All examples of those living life according to the flesh but then living for the one who died for us. I often struggle with what living life according to the flesh really means. I did some searching and this is the best definition I could find:
Flesh is any human action or achievement without dependence upon the Holy Spirit and without glorying, exalting in, trusting, treasuring, and valuing Jesus Christ. (John Piper. desiringGod.org)
So living in the flesh can obviously include things like sexual sins against others. But it could also include, being focused on the letter of the law, the Ten Commandments, as the source of salvation while not acknowledging Christ as the true source. Not centering our lives on Him and allowing that relationship to lead us in our endeavors. Even earthly ones. It can be being so involved in various parish ministries without having the Good News of the Gospel being the source of your involvement. Living according to the flesh can be the priest who uses his office to rise in the structure of the Church. To see the prestige of office as the goal and not the opportunity to use the position as a means to lead people to Christ and to eternity.
I think we should ask ourselves at every turn, are my actions for Christ and the Gospel or for myself. The answer could help us determine if I am acting in accordance with the flesh (myself) or for Christ.
