They are calling it “Deflate Gate”
Let’s see – 24 footballs were
inspected before last week’s game – 12 for New England, 12 for
Indianapolis. All were found to be
properly inflated. The footballs were
checked again at the end of the first half and, for New England 11 out of 12
were not inflated properly. All 12 of
the footballs used by Indianapolis were correct.
What happened? – amazingly, no one
knows – not even the coach or the quarterback!
Coach Belichick got God involved
yesterday – something about atmospheric conditions!
Tom Brady – what’s the big deal? No one died?
This isn’t ISIS!
Is it a big deal? Does it affect the integrity of the game when
rules are broken?
It’s not surprising that Coach
Belichick involved God. In fact, many
people already believe that God is involved in the Super Bowl.
Surveys taken last year reveal that a
lot of praying is going on before the Super Bowl: 26 % of American pray to God to help their
team - 23 % believe their team is
cursed! I can understand if you are a Cubs fan!
31 % of Catholics &
45 % of Protestants believe: God
plays a role in determining the winner of a sporting event!
65 % of Catholics believe that God
rewards faithful athletes. Wow!
This is how God works? What happens if a faithful athlete
loses? He didn’t pray enough?
Website “ Open Doors” says that: Each month 332 Christian are killed because of their
faith 214 Christian Churches and
properties are destroyed 772 forms of
violence are committed against Christians.
They did not have faith????
I remember my Dad one year before
death – his health was getting worse – Michael: what did I do?
Did I do something wrong? This
was a faithful, good man who went to daily Mass after he retired. Broke my heart - no, dad, you just got old! Since when does having faith mean bad
things do not happen? What about the
Cross?
Young priest was talking with a group
of old priests like me. Would you do it
all over again?
He said: The expected answer is YES
The Question is WHY?
Not because I had good support from
other priests -
Not because I met so many wonderful
people -
Not because everything went well: IT
DID NOT ALWAYS GO WELL! -
Not because it was an easy life: IT WAS GOOD BUT LIKE MOST
PEOPLE, NOT EASY. (Or else our
seminaries would be full!)
WHY? – because somehow God worked
through me! -
I was used for good –
somehow my life made a
difference -
despite sometimes lousy homilies or
not best advice –
yet God was at work.
I Wonder – would Andrew, Peter, James
and John done it all over again? – said yes and followed? – nothing like they
thought – yet they were used for good
How about Mary? - do it all over again?
Faith does not mean things will
always go our way – but that God will always be there – and if we cooperate with
His grace – God can use us for good!!!!
So, who will win the Super Bowl? God knows (which does not mean he fixed it!)
– BUT - you better check those footballs!
