Chalk talk of the Week with Fr. Vito
What was the biggest “deal” you have ever made with God? Each one I am sure has made “deals” with God, especially when big things are popping up. Here in Rome where I am studying, we are in exam time. All of sudden the house transforms into an intellectual haven; everyone finally studies!!!! The chapel? Becomes the busiest place in the house because everyone is asking God for a miracle. Well, even in the midst of all these books, its also Super bowl time! Those of us who are fans and fixated on this sport spent the week getting this day ready. Between wings and chips and soda and ice cream and getting the NFL Sports Pass, we all gathered in our “bunker” at 12am, Rome time, in order to see the game. We were only 20 but it was great. Was I able to see it all? Yes. Did I have to take a lot of coffee? Yes.
I had my eyes on both teams. I asked God to bless the chiefs and to have mercy on San Francisco. It was a very good game, and I must admit, Patrick Mahomes showed the “Mahomes magic.” As the super bowl got under way, things looked a bit slow, but little by little things started picking up. When getting to the third quarter, it looked like the winner was obvious, a few fathers began to pick up and go, and those of us who still “had faith” stayed with hope that Kansas would come back. If I had heart problems I would probably being writing this from the hospital. The game was extraordinary and one thing is for sure, Mahomes never lost faith–in himself, in his team and most of all, in God.
I have heard and read up much on Mahomes. Players who have stamina to stay strong when things go against the current always have me asking questions about two areas of their life; their family life and upbringing, and their FAITH. Both are like two wings that play a vital role in our lives. I remember reading a great article on Patrick where he was praised for his qualities and even seen as a future Bret Favre. His 2019 season was successful and seen with a lot of praise. In the interview he revealed a secret to the Mahomes magic. He said the “playbook” which helps him through life is and will always be, the Bible.
Patrick is the son of Major League Baseball Player Pat Mahomes and Randi Martin. Patrick’s parents divorced but stayed on good terms for the sake of their son. Patrick in his childhood loved sports and belonged to a youth group where, he would form a relationship with Christ.
When I watch games where I find a player who inspires me, I try to see in what way their attitude can influence me in the way I live my life. Seeing how good this kid was, I began to read up on him and find what are the “secrets” to his success from his “playbook”.
Humility. St Terese of Avila has a phrase which I deem very true: “Humility is truth” Humility is a healthy acceptance of the gifts God gives us and also the healthy view of what we need to change in our lives. I remember at times when I was in seminary, I had difficulty seeing my defects or if someone called my attention to things going wrong. I would wonder if I was meeting the standards. I used to look at others and want what they had, and what frustrated me more was the idea that they are perfect and here I am battling it away. But as my spiritual coach (director) told me, when recognizing a defect, it’s a place of opportunity. Humility is seeing that opportunity to be a little better everyday. Humility is seeing the truth and accepting the truth in order to build a new talent. To get where Mahomes is required a lot of humility and also the humility of the fact that one has to keep trying and fighting.
An Ideal. I remember preparing a retreat for the missionaries who were going on Megamissions, our Holy Week missions. You might know what it feels like when your digging through your brain, looking for the idea you need to get these kids spiritually pumped. One of the kids who was helping me prepare the retreat came up with the idea of making a cross out of post-its. On each post-it would be written the reason why you are going to sacrifice a week of your life, and most especially the week when its spring break, to go on missions. Well, the idea was great! The kids with their post-its made a huge cross. On each post-it was written the reason why they would go to missions. The reasons would bring you to tears. Some put “ to save the life of a friend”, others put, “to bring my dad back to Christ” To have an ideal is to have that inner drive that pushes you to do more and to do it well. Mahomes had that motivation, having Christ and his family as his ideal, his inner drive.
When things looked bad for the chiefs, I began to think back to some personal experiences where I felt that what one wants to do “will not work.” It just looks impossible. We all have those moments when things don’t look like they are going to come through. And if it doesn’t, does that mean that it was a failure? I am glad that the Chiefs won. But, what if they didn’t win? Would it had been a failure? Thinking about it now, there came to mind two thoughts; the importance of seeing “why” we lost. And if we win, thanking God for the victory and attributing everything to him and keeping constant. If we lose our battles we need to know why we lost. The times when we experience desolation, isn’t always bad. It can be a way of God telling us that something needs to change. The peace will come when we see it and work on it. And if we win, we give glory to God.
So my chalktalk for you this week is to take this “Playbook” in your hands, get on your knees and see what God wants to give you in order to be the best version of yourself. Don’t let that “playbook” collect dust in any way. And like St Therese of Lisieux once said to a friend of hers:
“God can inspire unrealizable desires.” God bless you.
