Jim Thome's 600th Home Run

Last night Jim Thome became just the 8th person in baseball history to hit 600 career home runs. From now on Thome's name will forever be listed alongside some of the greatest players in baseball history, including Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, and Willie Mays.

Thome accomplishes this great feat in the midst of one of the darkest time periods in professional baseball - the steroids era. It is a time period where we have been let down by so many of our favorite stars, finding out that some of the greatest players in the game are nothing but cheaters. This has led us to believe that no home run hitter can be trusted. Every home run that's hit makes us wonder if it was done as a result of real hard work and sweat or simply with the aid of performance enhancing drugs. It is an era of baseball that has been crying out for a beacon of hope, for someone who can prove to the fans that great home run hitters who aren't cheaters, still exist. I believe that person could very well be Jim Thome.

Unlike Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and so many others, Tim Thome has never tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. He is a man who throughout his career has been nothing but a class act. He is a genuinely good person, a great ballplayer and a positive influence for his teammates in the clubhouse. No, he will never hit the 762 home runs Barry Bonds, and he never dominated the media like A-Rod, but that doesn't matter. Jim Thome is a man that fans can believe in, a beacon of light during very dark times.

Obviously this historic home run excites me because I am an avid baseball fan, but I think there is also a clear connection between Jim Thome's baseball career and our lives as Christians. I referred to Thome as "a beacon of light during very dark times" (a phrase which I admit I took from Sportscenter)...isn't that exactly what we are called to be as Christians? Jesus tells us very clearly in Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of the world". Thome didn't get the recognition that he deserved throughout his career, just as you and I probably won't be noticed for the good things we do with out lives. However, it's not the fame or the glory that's important...but rather being the best person you can be, the best and brightest light to the world you can be.

Vocation – In Baseball Terms

When most people today hear the word vocation the first thing they think of is the priesthood or religious life. The only time we ever talk to people about “vocations” or “vocation ministry” or encourage people to “discern their vocation” is if we want them to join the convent or seminary. I can’t even begin to express how upset this makes me feel. The only people that have “vocations” are priests and nuns…seriously?

Some others love to describe the 3 vocations in the Church. They then proceed to give the classic speech about how the 3 vocations in the church are married, single, and religious life. Ok…this captures a little more about what a vocation is, but does it really capture the heart and soul of it? For me, the answer is absolutely not!

For me, the essence of one’s vocation is something much, much deeper. A vocation is a personal call from God. It is a call given to each of us personally by the God who loves us and wants us to serve him. Now I could go into some crazy theological stuff…but instead I’m going to try to explain what a vocation is in terms of a baseball team. I’m going to warn you…this is going to be a long post, but I think that the concept of vocation is too important to go misunderstood by so many people. See if you can keep up with my crazy baseball imagery…

Every Major League Baseball team’s roster has 25 players on it. Those 25 players are all very different from each other, but they all work together, working towards the same goal of a World Series victory. It would be impossible to accomplish that goal without each member of the team…everyone from the cleanup hitter down to the fourth outfielder. Regardless of your role on the team, your job is to work alongside the other guys to get a World Series win. Is not vocation in the broadest sense the same exact thing? No matter if we are a priest, nun, married person, doctor, lawyer, actor, barber, etc. are we not all members of the Church, working towards the same goal…building the kingdom of God?

Just as nobody on the baseball team could win the World Series by themselves, in the same way we Catholics must work together as a community to build the Kingdom of God, no matter our state of life. This is the first point of vocation…through baptism; we are all “put on the team” and thereby are called by God to be a positive part of the Church.

Now, as we look closer we cannot help but notice the wide variety of positions on the baseball team. This relates to the many different ways we can spend our lives serving God. I’m going to look at the different positions in three groups…the infielders, the outfielders, and then the pitchers and catchers.

Just as most of the players on the field are infielders (4 out of 9), most of us are called to the vocation of marriage. This is a beautiful way to serve God and build the church, as we are always saying that the family is the foundation of society. Take out your infielders and you lose the possibility of getting any outs, take out the vocation of marriage and you lose this precious foundation. Married couples are called to give of themselves completely to each other and to their children. But remember, vocation is a deeply personal, not general, thing so the vocation of every married couple is not the same. Just as the second baseman and shortstop play similar, though slightly different positions, the vocation of married couples will also differ slightly from couple to couple. Some couples have large families, with up to eight or ten kids, others much fewer, still others are called to be parents to mentally or physically handicapped children, or maybe adopt the children of others. Other parents may not be able to have children at all. Even things like jobs can make one’s vocation distinct from others. Is not a doctor called to witness to God’s love in a very different way than a store owner? It is true that most people are called to marriage, but just David Wright is more than just an infielder (he is a third baseman), all married couples are not the same and are called to build the Kingdom of God in different, personal, beautiful ways.

Next are the outfielders…the guys who seem to be the furthest from the action. Most little leaguers will tell you that the outfield is the most boring place on the field to be. But are they any less important than the infielders? Without the support of the outfielders, the infield could not do their job, and the team could never reach their goal. For me, this relates perfectly to the vocation of single life. I doubt many people would admit it, but I think today many see the single life as the pointless vocation. If you can’t marry or be a priest, what’s the point? Well…just as the outfielders are called to contribute to the team in a particular way, so are people called to single life. They are able to build the Kingdom of God in a different, though no less beautiful way. They are freed from a lot of the obligations and responsibilities that fall upon those who are married, as well as priests and religious brothers and sisters, and are therefore able to give themselves in unique ways. My uncle is not married, and probably will never marry, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a vocation, in fact it means just the opposite. His vocation is different from mine and from my parents. In addition to that, just as with the infielders, the way single people live out their vocation is going to vary as much as the three outfield positions. The three outfield positions look the same, but in fact they are very different, distinct from one another.

Finally we have the pitcher and catcher. Even though there are only two of them, they are absolutely vital to the game. They are also the central animators of each and every baseball game, directly responsible for everything that happens. Doesn’t this perfectly describe our priests and religious? Without the pitcher, the game could never start…without our priests it would be impossible for us to receive any of the sacraments. Without priests, it would be impossible for us to receive God’s grace through such a beautiful and direct channel. However, not all priests are the same. Just as some pitchers are starters and others relievers, some hard throwers and others more finesse, in the same way the vocation of the priest is a personal, specific calling. Some priests are called to work within their home diocese, others to go off as missionaries, others to join a religious order, which is its own vocation and discussed below…

The catcher I think is another misunderstood position in baseball. Oftentimes his hard work goes unnoticed. It is also not a glorious position, like the pitcher and some of the other positions on the team…the catcher takes a beating every single day so that the team as a whole can succeed. This is how another misunderstood vocation operates…the religious life. Through vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity religious brothers and sisters are called to model the life and love of Jesus as closely as possible. They are called to be a living witness of the beauty of God’s love for the entire world. Through

the witness, and intense prayers of religious brothers and sisters, just like the catcher on the baseball team, takes a beating so the rest of the team can succeed. Just remember again, just as with all the other vocations in the Church, no two religious sisters are going to be the same. Some religious are called to be monks, others poor Franciscans, others educators in schools, and still others are called to minister to the sick and the elderly in hospitals. This is just another example of how truly personal one’s vocation truly is.

I think it’s clear that there are a wide variety of vocations in the Church and that all are necessary if we are to build the kingdom of God here on Earth. Take any one of the nine positions off the baseball team and suddenly the goal of winning the World Series becomes almost impossible. In the same way, all Christians…no matter their family, job, personality, etc. are all called to build the kingdom of God. Vocation is not a word tied exclusively to the priesthood. Could you imagine what kind of pitcher Roy Halladay would be if he didn’t have the rest of his team backing him up? There is room for everyone on the team that is the Catholic Church and everyone is needed if we are going to achieve our goal of building the Kingdom of God.

Now that we (hopefully) understand what a vocation is…the final question must be how do I find my vocation. Remember…a vocation is a call placed into our heart from God, not something we choose because simply because it attracts us. When I played baseball I was a catcher not because I chose it, but because it chose me. My gifts and skills lent themselves to making me a good catcher. I was a terrible hitter, couldn’t run, or catch a fly ball…but I had a strong arm, was a good leader, and a hard worker. The skills and talents led me to become a catcher. Now, I could’ve decided to play any other position I wanted, but I wouldn’t have been as good of a player and the team as a whole would have suffered. In the same way…a vocation is not something we decide because it attracts us. I can’t decide to be a priest because it looks cool or decide to get married because I could never give up dating. I need to look deep down into my heart to see where God is leading me. How does God want me to devote my life to him? It’s not an easy question, but just as baseball players trust that their coach will always be right there in the dugout to lead and guide them, we need to trust that our Heavenly Father will always be that coach…always there to lead and guide us to find our vocation, our calling from God.

“Heavenly Father, I thank you for blessing me with this beautiful life you have given me. I know in my heart that you are calling me to a divinely inspired vocation, a path towards devoting my life to you and building your Kingdom here on Earth. Help me, guide me that I might discover that calling and so grow closer to you, closer to spending eternity with you in heaven.”

Ben Zobrist: Giving it to God

It’s not too often that you find a celebrity who is famous for anything other than their crude behavior in the national light.  It’s not too often that you find fans who are interested in the personality of their “idol” rather than their stats, outfits, or hair.  I cannot tell you the number of people I know, who would “just die” if they got the chance to be in the same car as the Jersey Shore crew of pirates. (Because they Drink, Smoke, Fight, have sex with anyone that has two legs and is a, “Juice-Head Guido”). 

But maybe it’s time we became real fans. 

In 2008 the Tampa Bay Rays went to the World Series, and Ben Zobrist was a benchwarmer, with a batting average of .253, with 30 runs batted in, 12 homers, and 3 stolen bases.  But in 2009 his number were sparked to life with a batting average of .297, 91 runs batted in, 27 homers, and 17 stolen bases thus earning his nickname “ZORILLA”.  These are some staggering numbers especially for one offseason and he still gives it all to God.  Now THAT is a true celebrity.   

Baseball, America’s favorite pastime is one of my favorite sports.  Ben “ZORILLA” Zobrist, first baseman, second baseman, shortstop, and outfielder for the Tampa Bay Rays, has been one of the more successful professional athletes in America, and whether you know it or not, he gives it all to God.  His wife, Julianna Zobrist, is a Christian singer and has performed at many of the Tampa Bay Rays games along with other baseball games and events. 

So often we hear about professional athletes and other celebrities getting themselves into trouble for doing things that, let’s just face it, aren’t normal.  Plaxico Burress Shot himself in the leg…while at a nightclub.  Lindsay Lohan has easily fallen off the deep end, after stealing jewelry… while on probation.  Miley Cyrus is turning out to be just another Britney Spears, and she is the reason I do not believe in young stars.  Well maybe it is time we became fans of real celebrities, people who care and are setting good examples.       

Knicks Blockbuster Carmelo Anthony Trade

This has been a historical month for the New York Knicks. Not too long ago, the Knicks were one of the most embarrassing organizations in professional sports. Part of the reason why I could never get into the NBA was because of how pathetic the Knicks have been for so long. Now all of a sudden they add not only Amar’e Stoudemire but also Carmelo Anthony and they are a real basketball team again. This mega deal for Carmelo Anthony has really gotten NYC excited about the Knicks for the first time in a long time.

So yeah, ‘Melo gets to play in the big city, New Yorkers get to watch one of the NBA’s biggest stars…this trade really seemed like a win for everyone, right? Well not exactly…there’s one person who is not happy about the trade. It’s a story that hasn’t made the headlines because it ruins the “perfect situation” that the ‘Melo trade was supposed to create. Here’s the story…

http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/carmelo-anthony-the-orchestrator-of-the-garden-of-good-and-evil/?icid=maing|main5|dl11|sec1_lnk3|46329

Basically the article says that Chauncey Billups was the forgotten man in this “perfect trade.” Unlike many professional athletes, the most important thing in Billups’ life is not his stat line or his contract. No, what matters most to Chauncey Billups is his family. Being able to finish his career in Denver, his hometown, was Chauncey’s dream. Finally he could settle his family down and not force his kids to move to another new school. Keep in mind this is a man who a few years ago refused to play for Team USA one summer so that he could be a stay at home dad for his newborn daughter. Chauncey Billups is a real class act, a real family man, and it is unfortunate that he had no choice but to move across the country. This was touch for Chauncey, as well as the whole Billups family. I truly feel for them and I pray that God may help them get through this difficult transition.

Although this trade created an unpleasant, almost depressing, situation for Chauncey and his family, I have no doubt that Chauncey will play his heart out in New York. He is a truly good man and will give nothing short of his best effort to his new team. He is a great man, and a good leader, the New York Knicks are lucky to have him.

Super Bowl Sunday!!!!!

For a good percentage of Americans, this Sunday is one of the most important days of the whole year. The Super Bowl really is what football season is all about, the day we’ve all been waiting for. In case you are wondering who I’m rooting for…I’m all for the Packers because I love Aaron Rodgers. I know that’s not really relevant to this post, but I thought I’d throw it out there.

I really love seeing how Super Bowl Sunday is an extreme high point in the year for most Americans. Think about it… First think of all the millions of people who will be watching football. When asking people if they like football the two most popular answers are usually “Yes absolutely”, or “I usually only watch the Super Bowl.” Next, think about all that we get besides the best football game of the year: the best commercials of the century always air during the Super Bowl because of all the extra viewers, and we also usually get a pretty amazing entertainment show. This year Rachel from Glee will sing “America the Beautiful” before the game, and the Black Eyed Peas have the halftime show, so I’m super excited!! Finally, think

about the sense of community that the Super Bowl creates. How many people attend super bowl parties with friends and family? The food, drinks, and football on this day in particular bring people together in a very special, beautiful way. How truly empty football season would be without this incredible feast to end the season with!!

Super Bowl Sunday has clearly become an extreme “High Point” in our country’s calendar. Did you ever realize that the Church has its own “High Point” which gives everything else its meaning? Well it does, and the beautiful thing about the Church’s “High Point” comes a lot more often than just the one a year Super Bowl. Of course I’m talking about the Mass!

Take a step back and just think about the power of the Mass. Through it we find the absolute fullness of religious truth, as well as establish an incredible connection with God Himself! The mass is filled with beautiful music, begging God to forgive us, praising the infinite greatness of God’s love, listening to the Word of God in Scripture…and that’s just in the first half of the mass! We spend the entire second half of mass preparing for the most powerful mystery of our faith: The Eucharist. Though the Eucharist God himself not only becomes REALLY AND TRULY PRESENT (not just a symbol), but he actually enters our body as food. God himself literally feeds us with himself. What could be a better “High Point” than gathering together as a community of faith to engage in such a deep and powerful mystery? Everything we do as Catholics finds its high point in the Mass. Just as football season would make absolutely no sense without Super Bowl Sunday, a Christian life without the Mass would be just as empty and meaningless. What an incredibly amazing mystery the mass truly is!!

“Lord Jesus thank you for giving your Church the Mass as its central and highest form of prayer. Help us to see the Mass as the most important, most heavenly part of our lives. Give us a renewed love for the Mass. Allow the graces we receive at Mass to penetrate into our entire being, truly giving our lives meaning and focus.”

Gil Meche Retires from MLB

Let’s change it up a little and look at something crazy that just happened in the world of sports. Pitcher Gil Meche of the Kansas City Royals has decided to retire from the game of baseball. Two things make this sudden retirement quite unusual. First and foremost, Meche deciding to retire now means he is opting out of the last year of his contract, a year in which he would be earning 12.4 million dollars. Secondly, Meche is retiring at the age of 32, which is fairly young in baseball years. Meche could theoretically play for at least another 4 or 5 years at a decent level and make even more money. What the heck is this guy thinking?

Ever since the Royals gave Meche a huge contract that he didn’t deserve back in 2006 I couldn’t stand the guy. I thought it was despicable that such an average pitcher could sign a deal worth 55 million dollars over 5 years. Unfortunately for Meche, his career didn’t quite pan out as he was overworked by his manager, causing him some shoulder problems over the past few years. Meche knew he had every right to collect that 12.4 million, no matter how poorly he performed, even if it meant being banished to the bullpen. He is also only 32 years old, so he could also have elected to have surgery to fix his shoulder and still come back and try to resurrect his career. So again, why wouldn’t the guy hang around at least for another year to finish off his contract and retire after getting that nice fat paycheck?

The reason is actually quite simple…Gil Meche is a man of real integrity. He has too much respect for himself, for his family, and for the game of baseball to hang around and collect money that he knows he will not truly earn. Meche is not a man who will allow his life to be dictated by money or by the expectations of those around him. Meche knows he could hang around and collect a paycheck, or he could take this time to stay healthy and grow closer to his family. In a recent interview, Meche even said “Yeah, a lot of people might think I’m crazy for not trying to play and making this amount of money. I don’t think I’m ever going to regret it.” I admit I was completely wrong about Gil Meche; he is truly a great man. This is one thing I really love about the world of sports, knowing that for every cocky loudmouth like Terrell Owens there is a quiet, honest man like Gil Meche who is just doing what he thinks is best for him and his family. Gil Meche was nothing but a very average player during his career, but it is his manner of retirement that makes him an all star in my books. (For the full story CLICK HERE )

I think the Gil Meche retirement gives us all a chance to take a minute and think about where our motivations in life truly lie? Why do I get up in the morning and do the things I do. What are the chief motivations behind my day to day decisions? Do I act the way I do simply because I’m looking out for myself and my own wants and desires? Do I act the way I do because I’m looking for the easiest way to get through school, work, etc.? Do I act the way I do because I love my friends and family and want to do what’s best for them? Do I act the way I do because of my love for God and my desire to bring about the kingdom of God wherever I go?

I think today is a good day for us to take a few minutes and think about what the honest answers to the above questions would be. After finding the honest answers, think about whether or not you can call yourself a person of true integrity. Looks like it’s time for another examination of conscience…