Faithfulness, God, and the Red Sox

An Everyday Stewardship Reflection for the 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2016

There was a movie a few years back entitled, Fever Pitch, where Jimmy Fallon played a devoted Red Sox fan. He was so loyal and consumed by the Red Sox, it was a huge obstacle to any romantic relationship he tried to start. In the end, he found a partner in a woman, played by Drew Barrymore, who was able to deal with his devotion once he showed he was willing to give up his season tickets for her. In fact, she came to love how he cared about something so much, realizing few people care that much about anything.

Loyalty to a sports team can be tested when wins are hard to come by. But true fans never forsake their teams. They cheer them on through the good times and the bad.

The extreme loyalty of the most faithful sports fan gives us only a glimpse of the loyalty God has for us. If everyone chooses to desert us, God remains faithful to His own. This reality should have such an impact on our lives because we never need to fear the obstacles and trials ahead. The life of a disciple is not an easy one. People will sometimes find our faithfulness unsettling or it may make them feel uncomfortable. They may choose to walk away rather than hear about this Jesus that seems all-consuming. But the loyalty and faithfulness of God can be your strength. In Him you will find the strength to run the race and reach the finish line.

And when you cross that finish line, God will be there: your coach, your teammate, and your greatest fan. Think about what happened to the Red Sox after so many years of disappointment. Even when it seems you have no chance to win, God knows if you stick to the game plan, the prize will be yours.