No matter how secure or self-confident we are, most of us will confess to being quite interested in the opinions others have of us. It can be out of vanity, pride or insecurity. It wasn’t idle curiosity or vanity that prompted Jesus’ dual question; who do people/you say I am? Certainly not when he calls himself today and in 80 other places "Son of Man". Was He thinking that Peter’s title "you are the Christ" risked isolating Jesus from ordinary human beings? We’ll never know, but we appreciate that special titles can be dangerous when applied to humans. We can easily do what they do, but don’t wish it. Calling someone "special" helps us escape from our own responsibility.

On these sports dominated September Sundays, the competing players deepened the grain of talent within by their dedication, commitment, hard work and time. True of sporting life and a Christian one. Jesus wants dedicated followers- not admirers; workers in the harvest- not onlookers. But crosses will come if you follow Jesus. As Jesuit activist Daniel Berrigan once said; "In following Jesus, you had better look good on wood." No special title or qualifications are necessary and God is an equal opportunities employer.

(Comments to Tom at stmarysrcathlone@oceanfree.net )