Last in a four part series
Success in athletics requires discipline, strengthening, proper nourishment, and good decision-making. The Christian life is no different. Like an athlete in training, a Christian is often tempted to abandon their “workout routine” for other activities that may seem more enticing at the moment. The Christian life is demanding, success requires strength to endure to the end. Without the proper nourishment-the Body and Blood of Christ-Christians have no life in them.
“This is my body, which will be given up for you,“ is not only Christ’s institution of the Eucharist, it is the credo of every Catholic who engages in athletic competition. When an athlete commits to participate in a sport they make this pledge--whether or not they are consciously aware--to their teammates, coaches and fans: “This is my body, which will be given up for you.” An athlete sacrifices his or her body and all that dwells within--mind, spirit and will--to better someone and something beyond themselves. As people of the Eucharist, Catholic athletes make this sacrifice not merely in imitation of Christ, but truly in him and through him, as branches of the Eucharistic vine. When we feed on the Bread of Life we become bread for others, and our sacrifices for others, whatever they may be, are made in and through Christ in the Eucharist. Sports are thus a powerful avenue for Eucharistic living, and this good news needs to be shared with Catholic athletes everywhere.
No comments:
Post a Comment