Knute Rockne is a legend in football, especially at Notre Dame University in Indiana. He was born in Norway but immigrated at a young age to the Chicago area. Rockne starred on defense and offense for the Fighting Irish during the early part of the Twentieth Century putting the team on the football map for decades to come. He helped introduce the forward pass to the game, transforming the sport forever. He played professional football for 4 years before becoming one of the greatest coaches in college football history, again, at Notre Dame. Rockne was born with the tools to succeed at the game of football and used those tools to excel into one of most memorable athletes in history.
Daniel Ruettiger also grew up near Chicago. In the city of Joliet, Illinois. He was from a large, poor Catholic family. A family whose patriarch, Daniel’s Dad, was a huge Notre Dame fan. And Daniel picked up on his Father’s love for football and the Fighting Irish. Daniel is likely best known for his nickname…Rudy. At 5 foot 6 inches tall Rudy was the smallest player on his high school football team at Joliet Catholic. But in his senior year he led the team in tackles. He was a marginal student, related to his suffering with a learning disability called dyslexia. His grades and his football talent had him slated for Junior College at best. But his dream? To attend and play football at Notre Dame University. But to many, his dreams were out of reach.
Rudy ended up doing two tours of duty for the Navy in Vietnam beginning in 1968. He returned home and was accepted at Holy Cross College, also in South Bend. In the shadows of Notre Dame. He discovered that he could transfer from Holy Cross to Notre Dame if his grades were good enough. After three rejections from the school, he was finally accepted in 1974, Part of his dream was realized. But football was still in his heart. He earned a spot on the team’s practice or scout squad. In 1975 he earned a position on the Fighting Irish. Coach Dan Devine, at the urging of Rudy’s teammates and the fans, put Rudy into the final game of the season and his college career. He played two plays and ended the game by tackling the opposing quarterback. Rudy’s teammates carried Rudy off the field that day and into Notre Dame history.
Knute Rockne had the tools to be an outstanding athlete and coach in football. He used those tools, or talents, to maximize his potential and became one of football’s shining stars. A career that can only be described as well done. Rudy Ruettiger had none of Knute’s advantages or skills or talents. But he had a dream and he pursued that dream with all he had. He was not football’s shining star in terms of his accomplishments on the gridiron. But there is no doubt that he took what he was given and made the most of it. Also a job well done.
There is one line that struck me in today’s Gospel that gave me the idea to how I wanted to approach this reflection.
“A man going on a journey
called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.
To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one–
to each according to his ability.”
...each according to his ability. God doesn’t ask each of us to be more than we are. He grants us certain abilities, skills and “talents” and all He asks is that we use them to the best level we can. He gave 5 talents (about 100 years wages) to the first servant because of his past performances. Likewise he granted 2 talents to the second and 1 to the third. All due to his estimation of each individual’s abilities. And when the first two doubled what they had been given, the master rewarded each equally. Not based on the amount of money returned. But the third chose to bury his 1 talent. To bury the potential he had to serve. And he was punished for his lack of faith in his own abilities and the response of his master. In fact, the one talent he had was given to the one who had 10. This is how much God wants us to use the skills he has given us. To use those skills for his Kingdom and to serve each other.
In preparing for this reflection I read a commentary by a pastor who was focusing on today’s first reading from 1st Corinthians. How God used simple people to shed light on the sins of the proud and noble. How these “nobodies” in society were able to spread the truth of the Gospel message around the world. Revealing what God expects of us. To feed the hungry, heal the sick, and care for our neighbor. The pastor compared God to a junk artist. Someone who takes spare bits of wire, metal, paper and cloth to create an admirable work of art. The individual pieces are, in fact, junk. But the artist, the Creator, transforms them into something much greater than the pieces. And that is true of us. We each have talents. Some greater or lesser than others. But are all granted something to share. To come up with a creation that is worthy of the Creator. Not worthy of the culture or better than someone else. But worthy of what we have been given.
Rudy wasn’t anywhere near the greatest player at Notre Dame. But his story has inspired many to pursue their dreams. I would say that when he meets his final judgement he too will hear the words “well done, good and faithful servant.”
