A couple of weeks ago we had our annual softball tournament here at the NAC where guys from the 3 different universities we attend for the first 3 years of study play each other. The Angelicum, which I attend had been on a winning streak for the past several years (7 or so). However, that day the Gregorian put together a great field and came up with a big win. I had a pretty good game by anyone's standards. I went 3 for 4 and had many catches in the outfield. That sounds good when you say it like that. However, the one time I did get out, we were in prime position to puts some runs across the plate as we had at least 2 guys on base. I hit a pretty good ball to second base, but right at the 2nd baseman and the inning ended. I also missed one ball at a crucial point in the game which allowed the Greg to plate a couple more runs.
The week after the game, I went to Confession. After I had told the priest my sins he looked at me and said, "Can I ask you a personal question?" I started thinking about my sins wondering which one he would ask about. Then it came, "How did it feel when you missed that fly ball?" Not really what I was expecting, but I swallowed my pride and told him something along the lines of "not too good". He continued asking, "did you let it get to you?" I had to be honest, so I replied, "a little bit Father". It was a crucial point in the game and when I thought "if I could have gotten a hit and if I could have caught that fly ball, the game might have ended differently." What was the point of asking that question though? It came when Father told me for my penance to take that feeling when I missed the fly ball, that experience of making that mistake and pray with it, to bring it to Jesus on the Cross, then to wrap it in a Hail Mary.
I have to admit, at first I was a little shocked. This seemed rather silly. It was a softball game, and though I was a little upset, in the grand scheme of things it didn't mean much. But I agreed and I went to pray in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Almost immediately, I remembered why I missed that ball. In the excitement of the game and in my concern with the base runners I took my eye off the ball. It wasn't long, maybe a fraction of a second before it went into my glove, but I took my eye off the ball. It struck me that this is exactly why I needed to go to confession. At different times, in different ways and to different degrees, I had taken my eyes off of Christ, off of the One who hung upon the Cross for me, who poured out his blood so that I might live. It is not enough to be focused on Christ when things are going well, when no one is on base, when the pressure is off. No, it is in the times when the stakes are high that we need to focus on him the most. The easy situations are training so that when the rubber hits the road, we will be ready and able to cling to him who is our salvation.
Lord, I thank you for this humbling and formative experience. I thank you for continuing to form me to be a good priest even in the most unusual and unexpected ways. Please continue to pray for me that I may see God's hand in every event in my life. Please especially pray that I will remained focused on Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. In those times when we fall and feel unable to do anything on our own, we should remember the words of St. Paul that "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).
In Christ,
Patrick
The week after the game, I went to Confession. After I had told the priest my sins he looked at me and said, "Can I ask you a personal question?" I started thinking about my sins wondering which one he would ask about. Then it came, "How did it feel when you missed that fly ball?" Not really what I was expecting, but I swallowed my pride and told him something along the lines of "not too good". He continued asking, "did you let it get to you?" I had to be honest, so I replied, "a little bit Father". It was a crucial point in the game and when I thought "if I could have gotten a hit and if I could have caught that fly ball, the game might have ended differently." What was the point of asking that question though? It came when Father told me for my penance to take that feeling when I missed the fly ball, that experience of making that mistake and pray with it, to bring it to Jesus on the Cross, then to wrap it in a Hail Mary.I have to admit, at first I was a little shocked. This seemed rather silly. It was a softball game, and though I was a little upset, in the grand scheme of things it didn't mean much. But I agreed and I went to pray in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Almost immediately, I remembered why I missed that ball. In the excitement of the game and in my concern with the base runners I took my eye off the ball. It wasn't long, maybe a fraction of a second before it went into my glove, but I took my eye off the ball. It struck me that this is exactly why I needed to go to confession. At different times, in different ways and to different degrees, I had taken my eyes off of Christ, off of the One who hung upon the Cross for me, who poured out his blood so that I might live. It is not enough to be focused on Christ when things are going well, when no one is on base, when the pressure is off. No, it is in the times when the stakes are high that we need to focus on him the most. The easy situations are training so that when the rubber hits the road, we will be ready and able to cling to him who is our salvation.
Lord, I thank you for this humbling and formative experience. I thank you for continuing to form me to be a good priest even in the most unusual and unexpected ways. Please continue to pray for me that I may see God's hand in every event in my life. Please especially pray that I will remained focused on Christ, our crucified and risen Lord. In those times when we fall and feel unable to do anything on our own, we should remember the words of St. Paul that "I can do all things in him who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).
In Christ,
Patrick
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