“Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!

Sing joyfully, O Israel!

Be glad and exult with all your heart,

O daughter Jerusalem!

…The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior.”

I have a high opinion of athletics. At the Air Force Academy, we memorized a quote by General Douglas MacArthur. It went like this, “On the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that on other days and other fields will bear the fruits of victory.” Consequently, every cadet participated in intercollegiate, club, or intramural sports, along with physical education classes and a twice a year physical fitness test. I wasn’t a gifted athlete, so I played intramurally, officiated, organized, or took classes in cross country, wrestling, water polo, swimming, water survival, tennis, golf, weight training, gymnastics, volleyball, wallyball (volleyball played on a racquetball court), racquetball (my personal best), boxing, hand to hand combat, judo, flickerball (a military created sport that’s too hard to explain), ultimate frisbee, and rugby (my unexpected favorite). Every home football game was mandatory and for half of them I marched out on the field before the start of the game. Except for the first game of my sophomore year (when I had a lapse in judgment), I stood for every minute of every game, did push-ups for the cumulative point total after every score, shouted at the top of my lungs for every defensive play, and did every group cheer led by the cheerleading squad. My senior year, I also went to three away games and the Liberty Bowl in Memphis. In my four years, the Falcons were 32-17-1, including 2-2 in four appearances in the Liberty Bowl. When I was fully engaged, I don’t remember once being bored at a game. I, regrettably, judged harshly the rare cadet who would march onto the field, go to the bleachers, sit down, open a book, and read for the whole game. 

I have a higher opinion of celebrating mass. During basic training and for seven of my eight semesters at the Academy, I went to daily mass at every possible opportunity, sang for the Cadet Catholic Choir on Sundays for nearly three years (they accepted anyone), and would go to mass on or off-campus on weekends when not singing in the choir. In seminary, we had daily mass and Sunday liturgies (either at the seminary or in a parish assignment). I roughly estimate that, at this point in my life (being a priest and all), I have been to mass five times as often as I have attended, played, practiced, or taken a class in an organized sport (throwing in personal runs and hikes, just to be fair). At a good number of those, I was not engaged fully and was bored, but whenever I am engaged, I am never bored. At some masses, I encounter the transcendent powerfully and, I dare say, mystically. The first time was in fourth grade when I couldn’t believe that mass was already over. I wanted it to go on forever. Much more often, I am simply moved by the experience, enlightened or challenged by the scriptures, encouraged by the faith of the community, strengthened by receiving communion, uplifted by the communal prayer and music, and grounded in the ritual and tradition. Occasionally, I am given grace beyond my capacity, like at the funeral for my cousin Nick. I am reminded that I am not alone, my life has meaning, and I am loved. My burdens are shared and lightened. My joys, too, are shared and amplified. I offer my life with the gifts of bread and wine and receive the very presence of Jesus in his body and blood. My full, conscious, and active participation in the celebration of the Eucharist has an effect. Although it is God’s action, my engagement lets me receive what is truly present. It’s not just for our entertainment and it’s so much more than a football game. At mass, this Third Sunday of Advent, rejoice! God is in our midst.