Message of Hope

Integrating Faith and Sports
Gospel: Jn 21:1-19     
Week of 4/18/10 

In this past week’s Gospel, we continue the conversation.

At that time, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias.  He revealed himself in this way.  Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.  When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?”  They answered him, “No.”  So he said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.”  So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.  So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”  When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea.  The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish.  When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread.  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.”  So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish.  Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.  Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.”  And none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they realized it was the Lord.  Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them, and in like manner the fish.  This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to his disciples after being raised from the dead.  When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”  He then said to Simon Peter a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.”  Jesus said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”  Peter was distressed that Jesus had said to him a third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”  Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.  Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.  And when he had said this, he said to him, “Follow me.”  Jn 21: 1-19 

Join the Conversation:
Wrestling with God and Clarifying our Thoughts

Roughly every week for the last two years I have sent out this weekly reflection.  This introspection of the gospel as it relates to the sports culture has been a wonderful and deepening exercise for me.  One of the reasons I get so much out of writing them is that it forces me to “wrestle with God.”  On many levels every week, I come face to face with Christ and the truth and try to put to words what that experience brings to the table.  And from this, I have come to see even clearer that this reflection is not about being right, rather an exercise, with you, to clarify thought and to propose a conversation.  So I thank you for joining me in the conversation, and joining me as we “wrestle God” together through the culture of sports.

So having said that, I thought I would offer a reflection by Father Gerry Pierse to join “our conversation” as he reflects on competition and contemplation.  I thought his reflection could relate to the sports culture of today.  Enjoy it!!!

From Competition to Contemplation

Little five year old Ruby stamped her foot in a tantrum. “I do not want a second place ribbon” she cried, “I want the first place medal.” It was recognition day at her Kiddy’s Learning Center when the top ten of each class would be lined up and, with appropriate fanfare, be given awards. In this ceremony the little children are given a heavy dose of psychological stroking. Already at five this was making her unhappy rather than happy. The spontaneity of childhood was already gone and adult competition and rivalries were raising their ugly heads.

There is practically nothing that we do that does not have a questionable or shadow side to it. The practice of the motivation of children by awards is certainly one of them. It is sowing the seeds of unhappiness rather than of happiness. Already, at the age of five, Ruby is contaminated. She has learned that she is bright but not bright enough. And what about the children that are in the last ten, those who never get an award? They are being told the lie that they are an inferior species of human being. Because they have not performed well in the particular range that the kiddy school observes and tests, they are being told that they are inferior. Their self image is being shattered. From now on the stroking or the rejecting ceremony will be repeated annually.

The apostle Peter must have gone through the equivalent of kiddy school on the shores of Galilee. He had learned early on that he was of worth for what he did and not for who he was. Everybody else was a competitor with him as he hungered for approval and affection. This situation - which makes some withdraw shyly from others - made him a boastful, impetuous humbug that missed no opportunity to grab the limelight. When Jesus suggested that one of the disciples was going to betray him he blurted out that he would die for his master: “Even if all of the others deny you, I will not deny you.” But we know that Peter failed and failed miserably. When, during the Good Friday trial, a little girl said that he was a follower of Jesus, he denied it vehemently.

But the great thing was that Jesus loved Peter. He loved the person and not the person’s performance. In today’s Gospel story we see the disciples back fishing. The whole messiah thing was over. It had been an illusion. Their leader had been crucified and they had been exposed in all of their weakness. When, after his resurrection, Jesus come back to the disciples he still loved them in spite of their abysmal performance. This unconditional love that Jesus showed for them as persons enabled them to see themselves, God and the world, in a new light. They were loved for who they were and not for what they did. This is the extraordinary quality of God’s love and of all true love.

As the Gospel of St. John closes we see Peter being given a final exam. Jesus asks him, “Do you love me more than these others do?” The way it is put we can see that it was a catch question. It was setting the humbug Peter up to answer in his braggart way. “Of course, Lord, I love you ten times more than the lot of them put together.” But the competitive Peter had learned in being forgiven that he was loved for who he was and not for what he did. He had learned that our New Testament God is one who loves us even when we are unlovable. He had learned to move from competition into contemplation. He moved from insecurely fighting to excel others into being happy to dwell under the same roof as the Lord. He would also be happy, rather than jealous, when others were loved by Jesus and responding to him.