Thursday was Jackie Robinson Day in
Brooklyn. He was born 100 years ago on Thursday. Born in Georgia, he was raised
in California. He was a great athlete -basketball, football, baseball. He hoped
to play major league baseball – but he could not, because of the color of his
skin. Can you imagine? He ended up playing for the KC Monarchs of the old Negro
Leagues.
The President of the Brooklyn Dodgers
was Branch Rickey, a man of deep Christian faith. He said “There was something
wrong at the heart of the game I loved – and I ignored it. But I can no longer do
that.” He heard that Jackie was also a man of deep faith and inner strength
& he asked to meet him.
Do you want to play for the Dodgers? You
must be strong. But - you must be strong enough NOT to fight back. They will
call you every name in the book, try to hurt you – but you must live out the Sermon
on the Mount – turn the other cheek.” Mr. Rickey, I have 2 cheeks.”
April 15, 1947 played his first game.
It was terrible how he was treated – remember – love your enemies. Dorothy Day
would say – love is a harsh and dreadful thing in action compared to love in
dreams.
A turning point – that May - first game
in Cincinnati – yelling terrible things – a man from the south SS Pee Wee Reese
came over and put his arm around Jackie – I want everyone to see who I really
am – maybe one day we will all wear 42 so no one can tell us apart. On April 15
– once again everyone in baseball will wear 42.
Because of Jackie, the color barrier
in baseball was destroyed forever.
St. Paul writes . . . love is
patient, love is kind, is not jealous . . .
What love is this? Greeks knew one
word cannot contain all meanings:
Eros – attraction – like I love pizza
or car
Storge – family – special relationship
with my brother and sisters
Philia – friendship – that grows over
the years
Agape – self emptying – Aquinas –
willing the good of the other as other. It’s not about me – it is about you! JESUS!
That’s why: love must be patient
& kind. Love must not be jealous or rude. It does not seek self-interest,
is not quick tempered.
Believes all – faith in God and faith
in humanity.
Hopes all – even when there is evil,
goodness will triumph.
Endures all – even when there seems
to be no hope left – does not return evil for evil.
This is telling us what God is like –
that God is love, and if we want to become like God, we must love as God loves.
Jackie was one of the best people of
our time “A life is not important except for the impact it has on other lives”
In the end remain only faith, hope and love, and the greatest of these is love!
