Last Saturday was the start of the College football season. I worked five hours at my part time job and raced (figuratively) home to watch my favorite team’s first game. American College football is not about money but the glory of winning. Most of these young men and women will never go to the Pro’s but will go on to be academic and moral leaders of our country. They will become parents, doctors, nurses, lawyers, accountants and scientists. They are the future leaders.
The game was not boring or one sided. Both teams were equally matched and the scoring advantage shifted many times. The final minute of the game was the most exciting. The opposing team was on the 7-yardline and about to score. If they had kicked a fieldgoal they would have only tied the game. Of course, they went for the touchdown. They wanted to win. With less than a minute to go the opposing quarterback threw the ball. However, it was intercepted by a defensive player on the opposing team. Game over. My team won.
Saint Paul writes in our first reading today, Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one (crown). Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shodowboxing. No I drive my body and train it for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
I am too old for anything but armchair sports but spiritually I am in training. Just like the runner, training takes discipline. My discipline starts with prayer every morning. I never pray for myself but intercession for others. My prayers include praying for salvation and the spiritual and emotional healing of those that I pray. Life is not about me but others and how to love them. My prayers continue during the day as I examine my conscience and run that spiritual race to heaven. Training is a habit. It must be regular and constant. It is the only way to improve. In addition, my day is embellished by taking every opportunity I can to receive the sacraments.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel reading for today. “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.
We all are ” in it to win it “. Heaven is a big. It is full of those who won the race. The training we do through prayer will produce that imperishable crown for those we pray and for ourselves. My ex-brother-in-law used to preach, “How do you get to Carnegie Hall… Practice, Practice. I say, training, training . We are all in it to win the imperishable crown. We want everyone to win the crown.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please pray for peace in the Ukraine. Also pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers.
