Unbroken. Medicine. Mercy, Fasting. (Ash Wednesday 2020)

2020-02-26 – ASH WEDNESDAY  __ Joel 2:12-18 __ Psalm 51 __  2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2 

__ +Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 _  

[_01_]   “Unbroken” is the title of a biography/book (by Laura Hillenbrand) and a movie about a World War II American military man whose fighter plane loses altitude and crashes in the Pacific Ocean. 

          In 1943,  his plane crashes and seemingly disappears – but there are 3 survivors – Louis (Louie) Zamperini is one. He survives for 47 days – longer than anyone has ever survived in such harsh conditions.

          When the plane crashes, they discover that the raft is very badly equipped with supplies. They have a few tins of water and a few squares of chocolate.

          And, their fasting begins. They are fasting from the very beginning. And, it is the imposition of a fast.

[_02_]   We might say that Ash Wednesday is the imposition of a fast. We did not choose the fast or timeline.  It’s FEB. 26 – already !

          I did not even know Ash Wednesday was coming. It kind of sneaks up on us.

          So, there is also a certain sense in which the fast is MEDICINAL or “medical” like the doctor/nurse ordering us to fast or in Louie’s case (Pacific, 1943),they are forced to fast because they are on the raft floating.

          We are invited to fast as a religious observance.

          It’s not the fasting that we chose, it is chosen for us.

          Is it not true that we often do not choose which “sacrifices” to make – sometimes we make sacrifices because we know it’s good ..even though we would not

have chosen it.

[_03_]      In the “floating fast” of the Pacific, Louie makes a schedule. This the schedule, this the chocolate, this is the water, there are 3 of us. We each get this amount of chocolate and this amount of water at these particular hours.

          Then, they sleep the first night. The next day, they awake and discover that the all the water and all the chocolate is gone, because one of them (not Louie) ate all of the chocolate and drank all the water.

          His name was “Mac”. 

          In the book we read that Louie “curbed his irritation.”.  Larry David suggests you “curb your enthusiasm” …but Louie had to curb his irritation. That was hard.

          Excerpt: “Curbing his irritation, Louie told Mac that he was disappointed in him. Understanding that Mac had acted in panic, he reassured him that they’d soon be rescued. Mac said nothing.”  (Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience…, New York: Random House, 2010, p. 132.)

          So, it was remarkably forgiving – merciful statement to say “I am disappointed” and nothing more, given their crisis.

         

[_04_]      So, I’m suggesting that Louie moves from the “medicine” of required fasting to survive…to the mercy of fasting. And, because of that act of mercy, they are able to pull together, work together and Mac – as much as any of the 3 – is a key contributor to rowing and moving the raft and keeping them out of danger.

[_05_]     Fasting is an act of mercy on our part, and also an act of community and unity. It’s something we do together, even if we do not actually know what others are fasting from.

          Fasting is also a way for us to recognize that God is in charge of our lives.

         

[_06_]     We can fast on our own schedule and timeline.

          I can do this. A child does this.

          We learn to do this early lin life. Children are good at fasting, especially when they are not happy, such as when the babysitter is present.

And, the child says …. I am not going to eat or drink or smile or talk or sleep … until my parents come home.

That is a fast, a defined and defiant fast, a way of being in control.

I can do that as an adult too!

[_07_]     God is asking us for the mercy of fasting, also to recognize that we give up something that is good, for something that is a greater good.

          Now, we do that – for example for medical check-up for the doctor/nurse. We fast for a period of time so that our bodies can be checked, measured, tested, for a greater good we fast.

          We give up something good.

[_08_]     I’d like to give 2 examples of this

          I like to stay up late. I like to sleep late… And, then when I wake up later than I should, I also feel good. Nobody got hurt. It’s all good, right? Yes. It’s Ok.

          On the other hand, it would be good for me to go to sleep/bed earlier. That would be a fast.

          In other words, rather than looking at staying up late purely as a “negative” or “vice”, consider it is good. And, in fasting, we are called to give up something good for a greater good, to recognize God is in control.

That’s the sacrifice.  That’s also the prayer of Psalm 127 …. It is vain, to quote unquote build the house – or stay up too late…if we do not acknowledge God as in church as the builder of the house.  The Lord pours out his gifts on those who sleep/slumber. I need to keep this in mind that God is the builder of this house of our parish, and also the builder of your house, your family.

Louie ultimately reflects that after all his suffering – on the raft, as a prisoner of war and more – was that he believed that “divine love had intervened to save him … He was not ..worthless, broken, forsaken.”

(Laura Hillenbrand, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience…, New York: Random House, 2010, p. 376.)

Fasting is a way for us to experience God’s mercy and love in our lives, to be renewed on God’s timeline, beginning these 40 days.

[_fin_]     

Forgiveness: "This is about us" (2020-02-23, Sunday-07)

2027-02-23 – 7^th Sunday in ordinary time

__ Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 __ Psalm 103 __  1 Corinthians 3:16-23 _ +Matthew 5:38-48 _

[_01_]       I’d like to reflect on the idea of GIVING …and then, FORGIVING.

1. GIVING
2. FORGIVING

[_02_]       This Sunday, I am just reminding you about the archdiocesan appeal called “Shining the Light of Christ”. There is a message in the bulletin about this.

            This annual appeal is not just about “them”, it is also about “us”. Sometimes, we see the Archdiocese of Newark as an “administration” and “them” .. and “out there.” But it is about “us”.  Why?

Because the appeal enables us as a Catholic community to do things that we cannot do on our own.

            The appeal, for example, pays for and paid for the seminary education that I was blessed to experience and this led to my assignment here, my arrival here as a priest in 2006 and to serve you and serve with you since then.

            So, you got me – as a priest - as part of the appeal. Think of your donation in that regard.

            The appeal also supports current seminary education at Immaculate Conception Seminary / Seton Hall that Father Bob Suszko is engaged in right now as vice-rector.

            And, the appeal supports campus ministry work – to ensure a Catholic presence and Catholic Newman Center at Montclair State University and other colleges in northeast NJ, the campus ministry work being done by Father Jim Chern at Montclair State University.

            So …the appeal is not just about “them” …it is also about “us.”

[_03_]       Your family needs come first. I am impressed by what you do to care for your children, for their safety, education, nourishment, insurance, health care, upbringing, for their needs in every way.

            Your priorities also include family members who have special medical needs. These must come first.  

But, if you are able, you can share this mission of the Corporal Works of Mercy by donating the appeal.

I am not asking you to give at a specific level or specific dollar amount, but that your participation matters in the appeal. You matter. I need you. I cannot do this without you.

Your participation matters. And I thank you for your prayerful consideration and all you do for our church and parish and the charities and ministries of the Archdiocese.

[_04_]       I’d like to speak about FORGIVING. To forgive.

            We hear a famous phrase in the Gospel today: “turn the other cheek”.

            What does that mean: to turn the other cheek_ ?

            I’d like to define what it does not mean.  It does not mean that we are to endure endless malice being done to us by people who are evildoers.

            It does not mean putting ourselves in harm’s way intentionally or not defending ourselves against someone doing wrong to us.

            Jesus has another command in the Gospel that is related to “turn the other cheek” à he says “shake the dust from your feet.” … “shake the dust from your feet.”

            This is about if someone rejects you ..then just “shake the dust from your feet”, let it go.

            I suggest that “turn the other cheek” is about FORGIVENESS.

            Are we willing and able -  am I willing and able to FORGIVE others?

            Are we able to forgive when someone trespasses against us?

[_05_]           I’d like to give an example. This is not about a really malicious wrongdoing as you will see. Not a malicious or wicked action, just maybe a more everyday example of what happens in a family – in this case between a father and a child.

            I am the child in this case.

            I would be embarrassed to call it a malicious wrongdoing, but I experienced it as a “trespass against me”.

            You may say at the end of this ---- get over yourself, James Ferry…

[_06_]       The example is this. After I finished my academic studies…. College and university studies, then traveled for a while after college, all of which I financed myself and then went to graduate school with my own money.

            This all took about 5 years post-college. So, in 1993, I am finally out there looking for what is technically called a “real job.”

            What you would say was a real job. I was living at my parent’ house, thinking about about my working “future” and my student “past history.”  I had to get a job to get out of the past and into the present (and future) reality of working.

            But, I was not too worried …a little ..not too much. My dollar-value student debt was manageable…and I had this great plan, not a lot of debt, look for the right job on my own time.

            Plus, I even had a job, but it was really not a long-term thing, no health benefits or anything.

            So, I was looking for a job.

            So, every day, for many days in a row, I would encounter my father at the dinner table and he would say to me: “Did you get a job yet..?” and the next day:  “Did you get a job yet..?”

            And, so on.

            I was tired of that question. I hated that question. My father was doing his job. But, as we say … I still wanted to do “me” … to be “me”. But I was annoyed, and experienced this a “trespass.”  (Spoiler alert: yes…I got a job and did so on my timeline, but realized that my forgiveness should not be based on my employment status…nor should it based on whether or not I viewed myself as in the “right”).

            “Turn the other cheek”.

            I just ask – when we are called to forgive someone, is the “forgiveness” only about “them” or is the forgiveness not about “me” and “us.”

            Is the forgiveness about the other person is it about me?

            Very easily we can turn “forgiveness” or the withholding of forgiveness into a weapon, we use against someone.

            We say: “I will never forgive you.”  …or… “I will forgive, but I will never forget what you did.”

            That’s a weapon. And when we withhold – hold back – forgiveness – it’s not about what you can do to even the score with someone else, it’s really about you are doing – negatively – to yourself.

            Forgiveness is not about them, it is about you and me.

            Forgiveness is healing.

            Forgiveness is not approval, it is not excusing the other person.

            Forgiveness is healing for us so that we can move on.

            Forgiveness helps us to receive God’s love into our lives, so that we can know that we are loved and we can love God and neighbor each day. [_fin_]

Maximum (2020-02-16, Sunday-06)

2020-02-16 – 6^th Sunday in ordinary time

_ Sirach 15:15-20 _ Psalm 119 __1 Corinthians 2:6-10 _ +Matthew 5:17-37 _

[_01_]      The comedian and TV-philosopher Jerry Seinfeld does this comedy routine on the searching and buying of a good medicine or aspirin.

          Seinfeld says – look no one wants a medicine, anything less than “extra strength”… cause just plain “strength” is right out.

          Some people want more than extra strength – they want maximum strength: “give me the maximum allowable human dosage.”

          Figure out what is going to cause me not to knock me out cold à Then back it off from there.

          Religiously and legally we do this --- we ask about MAXIMUM and we also ask about MINIMUM. Say – on Ash Wednesday or on Good Friday – when we fast / are fasting … we ask what is the least I can consume…or the most. 

          By the way, I posted a message/video about this on parish Lourdes website /Facebook page… and our Ash Wednesday schedule: February 26.

[_02_]       Regarding the 10 Commandments, we might ask, what is the LEAST I can possibly do? In this Gospel of Matthew chapter 5, Jesus is guiding us not just about LAW, but about LOVE. For example on Valentine’s Day, no one said – what is the least expensive gift I can buy? So, the law is about LOVE of God and neighbor and self:

          How we contemplate;

          How we consume

          How we commit.

[_03_]    1^st Idea: ‘TO CONTEMPLATE’ .  When we pray – we not only contemplate God, the Church, something out there…but also ourselves. Jesus said it this way:

“if you bring your gift to the altar, and there recall that your [sister or brother] has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your [S or B], and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:22-23)

          Consider – you or I have to go to a family funeral or wedding or other celebration in church and we realize we are not on good / cordial terms or speaking terms with someone. Or, someone has something against us.

          Going to church is an act of faith and contemplation, but we may realize we are contemplating some other burden.

          And, we have to walk into church with that on our hearts.

That might be maximum pain or maximum heartache. Now, sometimes, we cannot actually confess or reconcile with the other directly face-to-face. But it’s an opportune time to confess, to confess our sins to a priest, so that we can be reconciled with a clean heart before we come to the altar. Psalm 51: A humble contrite heart O God you will not spurn.

          This small stuff helps us to contemplate and be in right relationship with God and neighbor.

[_04_]     2^nd  Idea: “TO CONSUME.”

          Jesus speaks about what it means to consume, and to CONSUME his wisdom, his word and even the body of Christ in Communion.

          The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “When I found your words, I devoured them, they became my joy and the happiness of my heart.”  (Jeremiah 15:16)

          What do we consume? There are words – information -  images – everywhere online and offline.

          There are many images we might consume – and they are not all nourishing and healthy for us.

          Images that can – at least in the short term – misinform if not actually deform – our consciences.

          There are many indecent images in the world – can we look away? Jesus is associating this and cautioning us about adultery and how it can begin.

          To avoid “consuming” these image may seem to be “small stuff. But if we use Caller-ID to keep ourselves away from harmful people, can we not use some of the same tools or controls on our phone to stay away from harmful images.

          It will seem to be small stuff to look away from an image or look away from a halftime show, but does it not make a difference not only in heaven with God, but also here on earth, to a beloved spouse, girlfriend, sister. 

          This is call to purity of the eyes for everyone, but it’s especially challenging for men and young men. It’s small stuff, but it matters what we consume.

[_05_]   3^rd Idea: ‘TO COMMIT’

Regarding commitment, Jesus said, simply:  “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No” (Matthew 5:37)

          I am guilty of this, sometimes saying too much when I could say less.        Let yes mean yes and no mean no. Full stop. Period. No exclamation point needed.

          As an example, I recall that I had to commit myself – make myself – available for a family birthday party that was scheduled and re-scheduled and required me to change my personal individual schedule around.

          For a day or so, I felt frustrated about this, but later realized that it should not be such a big deal.

          There are commitments that do require a solemn promise and a public vow and the explicit help and acknowledgment of God in our lives, for example:

-         Commitment of parents and godparents on the day of a baptism of a child, to promise to raise the child up in the ways of God.

-         To make the vows of marriage in church, before God, for richer for poorer in sickness or in heath. In this regard, your commitment in marriage has the same gravity and gravitas and permanence as a woman or entering religious life or the priesthood. In fact, your commitments in matrimony are an inspiration to me in my own commitment to care for our parish family.

And, these commitments involve a lot of small stuff, but they bring us closer to God each day, and the full big picture – to maximum view of our life and love.  [_fin_]  

Lourdes, Light of the World (2020-02-09, Parish Feast Day)

2020-02-09 - Sunday Observance of Our Lady of Lourdes Day – 5^th Sunday in ordinary time

__ Isaiah 58:7-10 __ Psalm 112 __ 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 __ + Matthew 5:13-16

Title:   Lourdes, Light of the World (2020-02-09,  Parish Feast Day)

[_01_]   This Sunday – we anticipate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes Day which is Tuesday February 11 – and our devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes originates with the first grotto – or cave – of Lourdes which is depicted in the mosaic tile painting over our altar where we see Bernadette on the RIGHT praying with her rosary  and the Blessed Virgin Mary on the LEFT.

[_02_]   One day – it was February 11, 1858 – Bernadette went out to collect firewood, which was good. It was cold in winter in southwestern France. Bernadette came from a very poor family. Bernadette’s family was living, essentially, in a debtor’s jail, unable to pay back the money they owed.

          And, they were very poor. While gathering the firewood, Bernadette sees a vision. Bernadette describes this – in her dialect – as a petito damizelo, a petite damsel, or "a small young lady"  or “beautiful lady” “beautiful girl.”

          No one believes Bernadette when she returns. Bernadette does not command respect, as young and uneducated peasant.

          But, Bernadette insists on what she saw, that she saw a beautiful lady.

          Her family does not believe her. The priests – “fathers” – do not believe her.

          While not believing Bernadette, they also decide to  put Bernadette’s insistence to the test in this way.  They tell her to ask the beautiful lady of her identity, her name.

[_03_]        So, Bernadette – at the next opportunity – asks the

“petito damizelo” (beautiful lady) for her identity – who are  you?

          Bernadette was told: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

          This causes more problems – at least in the short term – for Bernadette – because no one had ever spoke about Mary and the Immaculate Conception in quite that way.

          At that time, no one said: “Mary is the Immaculate Conception”,  but would have said Mary was immaculately conceived or … people would have said, “please open your hymnals to number 783, Immaculate Mary.”

          People would have said “Immaculate Mary” but to say “Mary is the Immaculate Conception” would have sounded awkward.

          It may even sound awkward to us, but it was even moreso in the mid 19^th century in France.

          Bernadette insists on this wording, over and over again.

          And, this insistence ultimately makes her credible – believable – because they recognize that the only way for Bernadette to know the words “Immaculate Conception” was for this to have been divinely revealed.

          Bernadette did not know her catechism. Bernadette could make the sign of the cross to pray her rosary, but Bernadette really did not know what the Holy Trinity was. So, Bernadette certainly did not know what the Immaculate Conception was, and no one backed up her story.

         

As great attention came to Bernadette at Lourdes, as pilgrims and visitors came to Lourdes, and also to see Bernadette, she herself shunned and spurned all fame and all notoriety that came her way as result of these visions.

Bernadette is an example of a humble person, a humble disciple and to live as Jesus calls us to live as the “light of the world” and salt of the earth.

Bernadette could also see what others could not see and feel what others could not feel.

In the letter to the Hebrews, chapter 11, verse 1, we read this famous definition of faith or confidence in God:

“faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

          Bernadette manifests that faith.

[_04_]    About a year before I entered the seminary, I read the famous book/novel/novella – by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry  - The Little Prince.

          The Little Prince was also a favorite book of our beloved pastor of many years, Monsignor Joe Petrillo .

          The Little Prince appears to be a children’s book but it certainly is not exclusively for children and has much wisdom for grown-ups. One famous quotation:  “The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.”

          Bernadette sees what others do not see, expresses what others cannot express – yet.

[_05_]     Sometimes, people will ask me – why did you become a priest? How did you know you wanted to be  a priest?

          I wish I could you tell you there was one single a-ha moment or an bright illumination such as a huge Thomas-Edison-light-bulb over my head to indicate the way forward.

          That is not how it happened; that’s not really how life works out. Mine was a gradual experience of being called in this way.

          Even being called that I did not know that I was called.

          For example – I was in college doing my studies and I was not thinking about being a priest. I was just thinking about the job I was going to get to make money, and hoping for a lot of money, after college.

          That was my goal.

          I remember we had a Catholic Mass on campus every Saturday afternoon. A priest from the local area would come and celebrate the Mass at about 5pm. We would take a break to go there.

One of my friends and– Victor. He wanted to go but he could never remember to go. Because he was pre-med and very absorbed in molecular biology, organic chemistry.  And there was no way, he was going to remember to go to church on his own and interrupt himself on his own.   So, I would invite him …want to go?

          At one point, he told me that he wanted me to remind, “Jim I want you to remind me.” He wanted to be invited. He wanted to be interrupted.

          It was an alert to me that my reminder – my witness – mattered to someone else.

          Your witness – your testimony – your prayers – matter, which others perhaps cannot see or do not see, matter.

          And, the most beautiful things in the world are those we cannot see matter to God, matter to those who do see you here, matter to those who do not see you here.

          It matters to me that you are here. It matters to those around you that you are here. It is beautiful that you are here, that we are here together, that this witness matters to our world and helps to build up the Body of Christ in the world.

          It reminds us that.. “faith is the realization of what is hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart.” (The Little Prince)

          Notre Dame de Lourdes, priez pour nous.

          Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, pray for us.  [_fin_]   

A Normal Life / Kobe Bryant (2020-02-02, Presentation of the Lord)

2020 February 2 _ Presentation _ 

• Malachi 3:1-4   • Psalm 24 • Hebrews 2:14-18  •   + Luke 2:22-40 •

[__01__]       There was a reason why my father – when I was a child -- took me to a church prayer-breakfast. But it was not because of the breakfast. However, … breakfast was enjoyable. I never forget a good meal.

            We went to the breakfast because there was a visiting speaker, a New York Yankees retired baseball player speaking. His name was Bobby Richardson. He played for the Yankees in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s.

            And, he spoke at the microphone. He talked about God, about his Christian faith, his spiritual life encouraging us. I had never heard anyone talk like this who was not a Sister of Charity or a priest. He was a “normal” person. Maybe you think I am normal, maybe you don’t think I’m normal. In any case, he was what we call “normal”.

             We went because Bobby Richardson was the speaker. When my father was in high school, he was a bat boy / ball boy for the New York Yankee at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. It was the best summer job you could have and he got out of school early to go and be there in time for home games.

            My father was pretty much the lowest of the low on the Yankee totem pole. But, he did – as a ballboy – warm up the outfielders by playing catch between innings.  He was in the dugout. He was on the team plane for a couple of road trips, was at the World Series.  But all of that happened well before I was born.

            Now, there at the church breakfast. And when he saw my father he said, “I know you…I know you from somewhere.”

[__02__]                   I told my Dad that I was impressed that Bobby Richardson remembered him, years later. My father pointed out that Richardson was one of the really kind and humble players on the team, someone who talked to and would remember a lowly batboy.

            I read somewhere that Derek Jeter also was known to talk to batboys and relate well to “normal” people.

            This recognition by Richardson of “I know you from somewhere” was also an indication to me that my father had a life, an existence, identity apart from being my father.

            This separate identity is hard to imagine for a child, it may even be hard to imagine for an adult thinking about our own parents, that they had a life before they became Mom or Dad.

            That they had a “normal life” or…what I’d like to describe as a “hidden life.”

[__03__]      In the Gospel this Sunday, we read about the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. And, this is beginning of the hidden life of our Savior. It’s a public moment when Jesus is presented to Simeon and Anna at the Temple, for this ritual purification, this prayer. For a child, this is done 40 days after birth, and today – February 2^nd – is 40 days since December 25^th.

            We witness this hidden life of Jesus in the Temple,, that only a few people see – Simeon and Anna …this hidden moment is now revealed later to many in the Gospel.

            And, Jesus has a longer hidden life from the time of his infancy and until age 30 when his public ministry starts – and he does the things we are familiar with – walking on water, multiplying the loaves, parables, miracles, suffering, death and resurrection.

            Jesus’ hidden life is also important for us. All of us have a “hidden life”. This is normal.

            St. Paul wrote:  “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

And, here I do not mean that we have a shameful dark side that we are trying to hide from the paparazzi / cameras and reporters. Rather, we all have a life of the soul and we are trying to understand our own thoughts, our own intentions, our own consciences. Our own journey. It may take our entir lives to understand another person, even to understand ourselves.

Socrates – the Greek philosopher in the writings of Plato – is expressed this way that it is important to examine our lives.

            Socrates, the Greek philosopher is quoted as saying that the “unexamined life is not worth living.”

            So, we are call called to examine our lives. That’s normal.  A normal life.

            And, to experience conversion and change in our lives. That’s normal.

           

[__04__]        It seems only possible discuss the life and legacy of Los Angeles Lakers’ player Kobe Bryant if we talk about what he did off the court, as well as what he did on the basketball court .

            Last Sunday, the big news – and the big news all week – was that 9 souls – 8 members of a Los Angeles basketball team community together with their helicopter pilot – 9 souls in all – lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident in Los Angeles.

            All 9 of them need our prayers for their eternal rest; all 9 have a hidden interior life with God.

            Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers legend – together with his daughter, Gianna, was among them.

            Kobe is remembered as a start. Some people remember him as a very arrogant young 18-year old NBA player who came straight of high school the pro’s and did not pass the basketball enough and was always shooting when he should have been passing and how he evolved…to a more supportive team player and along the way won many

awards, All-Star and MVP, NBA Finals…

            But, was that the normal life of Kobe? The All-Star, NBA….

            That’s really we call “normal”

            What people have been reflecting on … whatever made Kobe heroic, or contributed a sense of humility or holiness, or enabled him to be husband father, all that took place away from the basketball court.

            It took place in church, in his home with his mother and father, in his home trying to love his wife and daughters and care for them.

Yes, Kobe Bryant was a superstar, wealthy, had certain advantages, but he also experienced a moment of scandal, a moment of infidelity for he himself was responsible.

He was called to be transformed.

And, all of us in some way are called to be changed, to be transformed, to move – in our lives from:

► infidelity to fidelity

► pride or arrogance to humility.

►fear to courage

All of us are called to be transformed away from our fears. That’s normal.

All of us are called to repent of our sins. That’s normal too.

It’s normal to receive God’s grace and forgiveness, to struggle and then move forward. That’s a normal Christian life.

And, then to share that by our own efforts to forgive others.

That’s normal.

[__05__]         Another element that could have contributed to Kobe’s transformation was the fact that while he was a basketball player and the say in the sports business that he was “owned” by the Lakers,  and could be traded, or cut.

            Did Kobe think that he was just owned that he was an object?  But, certainly in his moment of infidelity, treated someone else as an object. That’s not normal, we are all called to repent away from that.

            God wants us to know that you, that I, that every one has an inner, hidden, intrinsic value and dignity.

            Jesus reminds us this in John 15:15.   Even God who created us does not  “use” us as his handiwork, but encourages us as his children or Jesus says: “I will not now call you servants, for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But have called you friends, because all things, whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you.“  (John 15:15)

And, to those to whom much is given much will be expected.

            That’s not the equality or enforcement of Title IX or the government law of equality, that’s the Gospel. That’s normal …

            In the playing field, we see as  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote that “in a time when exemplary personalities [who the young person respects is] lacking, the champion athlete indirectly becomes an “educator” for the young people look to them for guidance.”  (Author: Bishop Josef Clemens, “Sporting Activity in the thought of J. Ratzinger/Benedict XVI”, p. 5)

            In sports, we see the balance between freedom and discipline and between what is the immediate and long term goal, between the individual the community and team…  what really matters, what was summarized well by St. Paul in 1^st Corinthians:

            “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.  Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it in order to win an imperishable crown, but we an imperishable one. ”  (1 Corinthians 9:24-25)  
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