Luke 13:10-17 A time and place For Faith
Jesus was teaching in a synagogue
on the Sabbath. And a woman was there
who for eighteen years had been crippled by a spirit; she was bent over,
completely incapable of standing erect.
When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, “Woman, you are set free
of your infirmity”. …But the leader of
the synagogue, indignant that Jesus had cured on the Sabbath, said to the crowd
in reply, “There are six days when work should be done. Come on those days to be cured, not on the Sabbath.”
I really enjoy watching our students compete in the various competitions throughout the school year, especially the sporting events. I really do! And I try to make it to as many of them as possible. Right now we are nearing the end of the volleyball and football season. Due to the fact that our volleyball games are on Saturday and our football games are on Sunday, you can understand that, as a priest, it’s not always possible to attend. In fact, it takes a great deal of sacrifice. After all, I too enjoy a little break – some quiet time or alone time – as well.
So it took me by surprise, a few Saturday’s ago, that as I was walking towards the gym to watch a volleyball game, a parent kindly came up to me to tell me that this one particular coach didn’t appreciate my presence at “her” games. As you can imagine, I was shocked. I asked why? I was told that I was a distraction to the kids. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I know the kids want me at their games because they always ask me to be there. I told the parent, “But I think I’m actually helping them!” Well, I walked in and made my presence known and felt by cheering and stomping on the bleachers (only at the appropriate times). The kids loved it and, I guess, “most importantly”, they won.
As a priest, I have attended a lot of catholic school games: basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, even lacrosse! I have to admit though, this was not the first time in twenty years that a coach did not welcome my presence or cheering; but it was the first time that it came from my own school!
You see, the parents and coaches of the opposing teams consider my presence as "an unfair advantage". And often, they come up to me afterwards and say something like: “It was nice to see you at the game, Father. I wish our priest could do the same thing for our kids.”
There are some people in this world that simply don’t get it. They think so much about the “now” that they forget the “later”. What will our kids remember most? They won’t remember the victories as much as they remember the support, the love, the sacrifices, and the commitment that was made for them. Yes, they will never forget the faith we had in them.
The Lord cured the sick on the Sabbath. He healed those who were scared and suffering. He made sure that wherever He went His presence would be felt - regardless of whether or not He was in the synagogue or in the market squares.
There are some people in this world that would love to limit our love, our cheer, our presence, and, of course, our faith. The Lord made it clear: every moment of every day is a God-given moment. We are called to make the most of it.
“Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent…He is like a tree…that yields fruit in due season” (Psalm 1).
The love of God and of our faith is a fruit that is never out of season. Every day and every place is a time and place for faith and love.
I really enjoy watching our students compete in the various competitions throughout the school year, especially the sporting events. I really do! And I try to make it to as many of them as possible. Right now we are nearing the end of the volleyball and football season. Due to the fact that our volleyball games are on Saturday and our football games are on Sunday, you can understand that, as a priest, it’s not always possible to attend. In fact, it takes a great deal of sacrifice. After all, I too enjoy a little break – some quiet time or alone time – as well.
So it took me by surprise, a few Saturday’s ago, that as I was walking towards the gym to watch a volleyball game, a parent kindly came up to me to tell me that this one particular coach didn’t appreciate my presence at “her” games. As you can imagine, I was shocked. I asked why? I was told that I was a distraction to the kids. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I know the kids want me at their games because they always ask me to be there. I told the parent, “But I think I’m actually helping them!” Well, I walked in and made my presence known and felt by cheering and stomping on the bleachers (only at the appropriate times). The kids loved it and, I guess, “most importantly”, they won.
As a priest, I have attended a lot of catholic school games: basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, even lacrosse! I have to admit though, this was not the first time in twenty years that a coach did not welcome my presence or cheering; but it was the first time that it came from my own school!
You see, the parents and coaches of the opposing teams consider my presence as "an unfair advantage". And often, they come up to me afterwards and say something like: “It was nice to see you at the game, Father. I wish our priest could do the same thing for our kids.”
There are some people in this world that simply don’t get it. They think so much about the “now” that they forget the “later”. What will our kids remember most? They won’t remember the victories as much as they remember the support, the love, the sacrifices, and the commitment that was made for them. Yes, they will never forget the faith we had in them.
The Lord cured the sick on the Sabbath. He healed those who were scared and suffering. He made sure that wherever He went His presence would be felt - regardless of whether or not He was in the synagogue or in the market squares.
There are some people in this world that would love to limit our love, our cheer, our presence, and, of course, our faith. The Lord made it clear: every moment of every day is a God-given moment. We are called to make the most of it.
“Blessed is the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent…He is like a tree…that yields fruit in due season” (Psalm 1).
The love of God and of our faith is a fruit that is never out of season. Every day and every place is a time and place for faith and love.
