It’s spring, and what a joy it is to affirm that ultimate victory over death by Jesus and proclaim “Christ is Risen”.  This season reminds us how God seeks to renew, awaken, and restore our life in abundance!  It is also a time that I get excited watching the garlic cloves I planted crack through the earth and show green tips of life!  Fantastic!  Spring is a time of new beginnings, new life; flowers and trees in bloom.  For our family, it’s also when baseball season is in full swing. 

Picture the scene. The runner is on third. Two outs in the bottom of the ninth.  The score is tied 3 -3  and the winning run on third base.  Fans are anxiously awaiting for that base hit that will bring the player home.  They cheer.  They scream.  They encourage the batter and the runner clapping wildly for him to run home for the win. The boys in the dugout watch the precision of every ball and strike.  At last, with a crack of the bat, it’s a solid hit down the right center line.  The crowd roars with delight as the third baseman runs sliding into home as the catcher just misses the ball spiraling into home plate.  The game is won and everyone is jumping up and down elated by the victory.

I remember Seattle Mariner Edgar Martinez telling a reporter during the ’96 winning season, “It sure feels good to win.”  Indeed, that year the Mariners had the best record in franchise history.  We all want be a part of the winning team.  Yet, throughout an entire season, like any team, we need to support each other through the slumps, the difficult times, the errors on the field and any other adversity.

We, too, must extend this supportive attitude along our spiritual journey not only with our biological family but also with our family at Holy Apostles.  Let us consider ways we might cheer on and encourage one another in our walk with Christ as we pursue the spiritual life together.  It’s not about goals scored or runs batted in – but about taking a serious and disciplined path toward salvation!

Like any team, we will experience seasons when times are tough, the spirit is weak, and when our legs can’t seem to hold us up.  We must learn to support one another when the enemies of depression, judgment, worry, anxiety, or despair try to overtake us.

Yet, so often, when it comes to our spiritual life, countless players are left on third base without the opportunity to come home for the win.  This story serves as a metaphor for our spiritual commitment to encourage one another in the faith.  It also paints a picture of our own commitment and determination toward the goal—as  St. Paul says, “running the good race.”

    

Let us encourage family and friends not to neglect their spiritual walk.  Let us become supportive team members praying for the discouraged, raising up those in need and personally living a Christ-centered life as witnesses of His light and resurrection. We are called to respond to hatred with love.  We are called to embracing faith when there is darkness and discouragement.  We are called to become peacemakers in a time of unsettled anxiety and fear.  We are called to discipleship in Christ.

St. Paul says, “Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4).  Just like the athlete, let us practice a wholesome training program developing the heart and soul to seek Christ in all that we do.  Let us ‘press on toward the goal’ for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us run the race with faith, with determination, with love.  Let us make our goal to receive the light of Christ guiding our way home to His Kingdom.

“Truly, the Lord Is Risen!”
+  Fr. Tom