Gospel Reflections for February 5 2017
Who wins today?
Two football teams that have played hard all season will face off in Houston, Texas for the Super Bowl. People worldwide, even those who never watch sports, will tune in to watch, even if just to see the famous commercials!
The Super Bowl showcases the very best in football. Through a somewhat complicated system, all the various teams meet throughout the season and compile a win-loss record that finally results in only two teams that are entitled to play in this championship game. You can bet that each will play their best!
But no matter how well the coaches coach and players play, only one team will walk off the field a winner, to rousing applause. The other team will walk quietly away, and as is so often the case in sports today, be quickly forgotten. Not many remember last year’s losing team. (It is interesting that even after making it to the Super Bowl, the losing team suffers a worse kind of defeat than a team that did not get there at all!)
God plays a different game. Each reading today lays out a strategy for success, whether a list of compassionate behaviors in the first reading, or the very bold challenge of Jesus in the Gospel to make a courageous and positive difference in the world today, both lay out the game plan for success in His eyes. The readings affirm that anyone who follows His game plan is a winner in His eyes.
Next week, we will invite those who have not already done so to help our poorer Los Angeles parishes and schools succeed in our Together-in-Mission campaign. Those parishes are our “teammates” in sharing the Good News of Our Lord.
Our reward is not a trophy, but the lasting happiness that only God can bring …sounds good to me! I want to develop those skills even more. Just as every sports teams must practice, train, and prepare for their best effort in the Super Bowl, so must we practice, train, and prepare as well. God will do His part; we must do ours. We can learn these spiritual skills in the University Series coming soon. Catalogs are at the doors of participating Churches.
Every day is a “championship event” for us with only one fan cheering us on. God is our huge fan who wants us to be successful and have lasting happiness, and so provides us with just the right game plan on how to do it.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
The right game plan. These are four effective, promising, and reflective words. Within the plan, we have at the very least … two natures: physical and spiritual. The physical is a distinct portrait of visualization. The spiritual is different and resides somewhere deep inside, which is God’s line of communication and a tad more difficult to discern than physical realization. For me, tapping into this line takes courage, prayer, hope, and faith … four effective, promising, and reflective actions toward the right game plan and a positive influence on others.
Father Dave, thank you so much for your important weekly messages. They’re always thought provoking.
Thanks for your thoughtful message. I like the way you expressed this.
Thanks Fr. Dave for always keeping the message relevant!
You are welcome!
Hi Father Dave, like every week your writings are undoubtedly the best among many, thank you for the way you present them to us and yes we have to keep practicing for the ultimate goal I have a feeling that following your homilies will help us get closer to our Lord Jesus.
May God Bless you and keep you healthy.
Thank you. I am glad you find them helpful. I certainly enjoy writing them.
A brilliant Reflection Fr. Dave!
If we are on God’s team and play by His rules we have already
scored a touchdown!
Well said!
I guess I view myself as a line backer when it comes to the game of life. Jesus is the quarterback. I do “strong back, weak mind” things, although the spiritual back is not all that strong. I pray for God, our coach, to help me to be a better version of myself.
I think you are definitely a “strong mind” person.
Beautiful commentary Father Dave!!! If we live Jesus love every day and touch peoples hearts To live in his precious love, our life will have touchdowns every day!!Love being on Jesus; team and our final touchdown will be Heaven!!Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it!!! It is a beautiful life if we make life beautiful by helping and loving others!!! My number is 777!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you, franca and dick
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee your University!!!
Thank you!
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