February 1, 2015
It
is Sunday, the Sabbath, a day of rest.
But
this is also Super Bowl Sunday, the high holy day for legions of armchair
athletes, the most sacred sporting event of a nationwide army of football fans.
Are
you ready for some football?!
The
National Football Conference and the American Football Conference will hurl
their most valiant warriors at each other in an orgy of hitting, kicking,
running, tackling, passing, catching, unting,
and praising God.
Wait
a minute: "Praising God?!"
No
way!
Yes,
way.
Consider
this: a Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback once
informed
a sideline reporter that God is responsible for the "Jags' victory.
Not
coaches, owners, recruiters, or trainers.
No,
God is responsible.
And
how does the quarterback account for the team's success?
"Thanks
be to God."
There's
a lot of guys on this team who really love the Lord.
When
the University of Oklahoma beat archrival Texas in overtime, the Oklahoma coach
declared on television,
"This
was Jesus Christ working through my players."
Say
what?
You
mean the Lord Jesus turned his back on Texas?
That
God's ears were tuned only to the pious petitions of the people of Oklahoma?
When
asked whether God would favor one side or the other
in
a match up of passionately religious players, coach Bill Parcells replied
judiciously,
"No
disrespect to anyone, but it usually works better when the players are good and
fast."
That
makes sense.
There's
a lot of holiness in the huddle these days, how about a little more hitting and
a little less preaching!
Personally
I'm all for the separation of Church and football.
But
this is really nothing new and not unique to the NFL.
Steve
Jones, a PGA golfer, claimed to have the Lord on his side, too.
In
today's gospel, there is another huddle and it takes place in the synagogue in
Capernaum.
Jesus
is providing the game plan for his players.
Suddenly,
a psychotic stranger jumps on the playing field, a possessed, raving fan, a
fanatic frothing at the mouth.
Getting
right in Jesus' face, he screeches, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of
Nazareth?
Have
you come to destroy us?
I
know who you are, the Holy One of God." (Mark 1:24).
Jesus
reprimands and rebukes the demon saying, "Be silent, and come out of
him!" (Mark 1:25)
And
the unclean spirit, convulsing the man and crying in a loud voice, comes
popping out like a fumbled football.
Jesus
exudes such authority that even demons obey instantly.
Jesus
is pumped up with such power that even unclean spirits know that his arrival on
the field marks the end of their season of domination over men and women.
There
was chaos in the synagogue.
A
man staggers into the synagogue like a streaker running across midfield.
Jesus
takes control.
In
the center of the huddle, Jesus calls the play.
It
will be a two-point conversion designed to give victory to this demented fan.
Point
one: "Be silent!" (Mark 1:25)
Point
two: "Come out of him!" (Mark 1:25)
This
is solid strategy for any player, on or off the field.
A
conversion is a life-changing and game-winning event.
And
whether we are talking about the conversion that first made us a disciple of
Jesus Christ, or about a later conversion that called us to re-order our
priorities, we probably need to do two things.
First:
Be silent. Listen to the authoritative voice of God.
Second:
Come out of him or her.
That
is a call to break free, to let go, to get rid of something.
Something
has got to give if we are going to go where Jesus wants us to go.
By
the way, that's heaven—not the Super Bowl!
(By the way, this homily is not subject to instant
replay)
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