One way people refer to this time of year is, “The good old summertime!”
We love the longer days of this time of year, and the many activities that characterize it. These are the days of graduation open houses, family reunions, and games of baseball and softball for all ages. In the sometimes-slower pace of summer days, I can often be found watching our grade school students play Little League, cheering on the local town ball teams whether it be the Hampton Cardinals or Miesville Mudhens, or sitting in the stands at Target Field to watch Minnesota Twins baseball.
I love baseball. While I never played much organized baseball, I coached Little League in my hometown for many years. I also coached softball at Blessed Trinity in Richfield. One thing I enjoyed about coaching was the opportunity to make connections with the team members, while encouraging the spirit of teamwork. It wasn’t long ago that a young woman stopped me at an Academy of Holy Angels event to ask whether I remembered her. She quickly reminded me that I had coached her in softball. It was good to hear how a former player has learned, grown and today is a parent coaching her own kids. From years of coaching and watching many innings of play, there are lessons of faith to be learned from America’s pastime. Let me offer three lessons to consider.
The first lesson is that baseball is a team sport. Earlier this month we celebrated Pentecost. In a reading used for the solemnity, St. Paul writes, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord.” In the world of baseball, we are reminded of this truth as we think about the nine players who populate the field. Each player takes up a different position based on their individual gifts and talents for the overall good of the team. Everyone on the team belongs and is needed. Baseball aside, all of us are invited to be a part of God’s team through the sacrament of baptism and to use our gifts on the playing field of life. We all belong as part of God’s team, and our gifts are needed in the world.
Another lesson can be found in looking at the trust that must be built between the pitcher and catcher to move the game forward. It is that trust that reminds us of the Holy Spirit. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit as the Advocate to lead and guide the Church until the end of time. When we place our trust in the Holy Spirit, it enlivens our hearts and moves us forward like the first apostles and disciples from fear to faith, that sends us out on a mission of making Jesus Christ known and loved as we put faith into action in our lives.
The third lesson is found with the batter who steps up to the plate to take their swings at the pitches coming their way. Much like a batter in baseball, life throws many things our way as we journey in faith. There are times when we might swing and miss, other times we might hit the ball out of the park. In the times of swinging and missing, we are reminded that we have a God of second chances who forgives us when we miss or strike out and always gives us another opportunity to step up to the plate. There are also times when we will meet the challenges thrown our way with the success of hitting a single, double or even home run. It is those times when we focus on the opportunity in front of us and connect with a swing rooted in strong Gospel-centered values to make solid contact for the good of the team, the good of everyone. The key is our being open to listening to the coach who knows the game and wants only the best for us. In our lives of faith, this coach is Jesus who teaches, encourages and even challenges us to play the game in a way that reflects God’s love to our world today, and ultimately brings us safely across the plate home to him.
