Random Pieces

Recently, I made my way across the country to speak to students at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Unbeknownst to me, a major winter storm had erupted right in the middle of my path. What should have been a sixteen-hour drive, turned into about 24 hours… a painfully slow, and at times frightening experience (You will hear more about this storm in a future podcast episode). At one point, it took three hours to move fourteen miles… It WAS THAT bad.

I am not always the most patient person when I am going 7 miles an hour in a 70mph zone… Recognizing that, I thought I would distract myself with a few podcasts that I like to listen to from time to time. The discussion was on board game design; in particular, what makes a good rule book. The host (who is someone I profoundly respect for his genuine niceness and sincerity) said something to this effect: “A good rule book should inspire. It should breathe life into this seemingly meaningless box of pieces and give them a decisive purpose. It should demonstrate how what you have been given is to be used and enjoyed, not just for yourself but those around you. It should inspire you to recognize purpose and meaning and that this is not just a box of random pieces. Everything has its purpose and place, and when that vision is grasped, it finds its meaning.”

I found myself meditating on that profound truth… in a discussion about board games… rule books of all things… for most of the remaining drive.

What does this podcast about board games and rule books have to do with our faith? Well, first, the Bible is not simply a “rule book” in the usual sense, it is something so much more! Something more like those “good rule books” that inspire (which, I promise, do exist… and so do board games that are that good… I am looking at you Viticulture, Scythe, and Wingspan).

Scripture is one of the primary places where we encounter Christ and his great love for us. Where we meet the very person who knit us together in our mother’s womb (Ps 139:13). It is where we encounter the One who created us with a very specific purpose in mind; not just for our own benefit, but for the world around us.

Christianity is primarily about a whom; not a what. It is ultimately about relationship and encounter. The more profoundly one encounters the person of Jesus Christ and the deeper one grows in relationship with him, he “breathes life into the seemingly meaningless” moments, struggles, relationships, or experiences in our lives. Christ breathes meaning into us… the “pieces” and he gives meaning to the “rule book” because it all points to a relationship centered on love.

In that encounter with Christ and His word, in the witness of his grace at work in the lives of the saints, and in the teachings of the Church handed down to us by the successors of the Apostles, we find that the lives we have been given are not just random chance. What is before me is not just a box full of random pieces without any real meaning or purpose.

It is here that we discover the answers to the questions that have been at the forefront of man’s heart for countless ages, “What is my purpose? Where am I going? Why am I here?” It is here that the “rule book” given to us by Christ inspires, breathes life into us and we find our decisive purpose. Love God. Love your neighbor as yourself.

Here we discover our purpose and can say without hesitation: “I was created by love, for love, to love. I am created for loving communion with God and with people. Called to the life of heaven. I am made to know him, love him, serve him so that I can be happy with him in heaven. I am made for two reasons: for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. First my own, then those entrusted to my care and all the Lord may put along my path to love. Everything else is the rest.  He calls me to perfection and holiness (Mat 5:48). Yet, he does not call me to an impossible task because he has given me a helper (Jn 14:16-21; Acts 1:8). Will I make mistakes? Yes. No matter how many times I read the “rule book” … I will make mistakes… I won’t always “win” each game, but he gives me the directions to grow. I get better. I can learn the strategy from that great cloud of witnesses (Heb 12:1). I strive to win the ultimate prize which is heaven. It is worth it and it is why I am here.”

It is a process. It takes time. It takes dedication. It takes passion. It takes great love.

“And He Stayed With Him That Day”

Tucked away at the end of November and the beginning of Advent, is the Feast of St. Andrew, an Apostle, a martyr, a great evangelizer, and a great friend of the Lord. I never paid much attention to St. Andrew before, but in that weird year of 2020, he quietly slipped into my life as a great witness and intercessor. Here are highlights (and lowlights) of St. Andrew’s life which I think we can all learn from:

1. St. Andrew is sometimes referred to as the “Protoklete” meaning the “first called.” Originally a disciple of St. John the Baptist, Andrew was present when St. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1: 36). Andrew and John (John the Beloved, not the Baptist) then began following after Jesus. Jesus addressed them, “What are you looking for?” Jesus still addresses this question to each of us: what are you looking for? Andrew and John reply with a question: “Rabbi, where are you staying?” Which Jesus answered with a simple, yet life changing invitation: “Come and see.” The Gospel tells us: “and they stayed with Him that day”. Andrew didn’t sign up for a lifetime of following Jesus right away, he didn’t know all the suffering this might bring, he didn’t know the great joy Jesus might bring. He just stayed with Him that day. And the next day. And the next day. Everyday for three years, and ultimately, for the rest of his life. Andrew made the decision to accept the Lord’s invitation in one moment, and he renewed that yes everyday. 

2. Andrew constantly brings others to Jesus. The same day that Andrew met Jesus for the first time, he ran to tell his own brother, Peter: “We have found the Messiah” (John 1:41). Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. Peter became the first pope, the leader of the Apostles and the early Church. Yet Andrew trusted his own relationship with the Lord, he trusted that the Lord loved him and wanted him on His mission just as much as He wanted Peter there. Peter was the first person Andrew humbly and joyfully led to Christ, but he was certainly not the last. Andrew was the one who found the young boy with the loaves and fishes in the crowd of thousands and trusted that Jesus could do something great with very little (John 6: 8). Later in the Gospel, when some Greeks want to meet Jesus, they first ask Philip’s help, and Philip takes them to Andrew who in turn goes and tells Jesus (John 12: 20-22) . Andrew was not selfish in his friendship with the Lord, He wanted everyone else to share this friendship too, starting with those closest to him.

3. Andrew ran from the cross once. He was one of eleven disciples not present for Jesus’ Passion and death on the cross. For whatever reason, maybe fear, disappointment, sadness, or shame, Andrew was not at Calvary as Jesus died for him and for each of us. Andrew’s story of following the Lord began with “and he stayed with Him that day.” Yet on this most important day, Andrew was nowhere to be found. We have records of Peter’s reconciliation with the Lord after Peter’s denials. I wonder if Andrew had a similar moment of reconciliation with Jesus after abandoning Him in His Passion? I wonder if Andrew struggled with regret from not being there. Whatever the case, we do know that Andrew returned to the Lord, and returned to sharing Him with others. I wonder how grateful Andrew must have been to celebrate the Mass, knowing that although he once chose not to stay at the foot of the cross, he now stood at the foot of the cross at every Mass. Andrew preached the Gospel after Pentecost, traveling far and wide like the other Apostles. He is most known for preaching in Greece where he was eventually arrested and sentenced to death, death on a cross. Legends say Andrew went singing to his cross and literally embraced it. He who once ran from the Lord’s suffering, now rejoiced to have a share in that suffering. Though Andrew was not present at Jesus’ cross, Jesus was certainly present at Andrew’s cross, and Andrew knew it, and rejoiced in it.

St. Andrew, close friend of Jesus, humble in following, constant in evangelizing, joyful in suffering, pray for us.

Questions for Reflection or Discussion:

• How can you follow St. John the Baptist’s instruction to Andrew: “Behold the Lamb of God” more fully this week? 

• If Jesus looked at you and asked: “what are you looking for?” What would your honest answer be?

• Who in your family or closest circle of friends needs to hear that the Messiah has come? How can you share that news with them? 

• What cross or suffering are you running from? Might the Lord be inviting you to share in His suffering?