Teammates In The Cause Of The Lord
Sermon
Sermons On The First Readings
Series I, Cycle B
"Outlined against a blue-gray October sky, the Four Horsemen rode again. In dramatic lore they are known as Famine, Pestilence, Destruction, and Death. These are only aliases. Their real names are Stuldreher, Miller, Crowley, and Layden. They formed the crest of the South Bend cyclone before which another fighting Army football team was swept over the precipice at the Polo Grounds yesterday afternoon as 55,000 spectators peered down on the bewildering panorama spread on the green plain below." Grantland Rice, a well-known sports columnist in the first half of the twentieth century, wrote those memorable words on Saturday afternoon, October 19, 1924. With these words a legend was started, for Notre Dame football, for the team's immortal coach Knute Rockne and, that day especially, for the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.
Who were the Four Horsemen? Elmer Layden, Harry Stuldreher, Jim Crowley, and Don Miller were the talented offensive backfield for the Notre Dame football team in the late 1920s. There is no doubt that they were great players. Football fans then and now remember their names and their exploits on the gridiron. All four have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Most people know, however, that there are eleven players on a football team. What about the other seven? Who were they; what did they do? History knows them as the "Seven Mules." Few if anyone remember their names; only one of them, "Rip" Miller, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Still, I am certain that the Four Horsemen knew them. In fact, the same Grantland Rice who immortalized the Horsemen said that this talented backfield attributed all their success to the Mules. They were the ones who stood in front, did the blocking, ran interference, and paved the way for the two halfbacks, the fullback, and quarterback to run the plays, score touchdowns, and bring victory to Notre Dame.
The Four Horsemen and the Seven Mules were a team. They knew that they needed each other. Without the Mules the Horsemen probably would have been an ordinary college football backfield. But the combination of the Mules and the Horsemen brought greatness, fame, and legend to Miller, Layden, Crowley, and Stuldreher, and to Notre Dame football as well.
The fabled Four Horseman and the unheralded Seven Mules were a team that worked together and in the process brought fame and legend to college football. While the sports world may remember certain members of this fabled team, and seemingly forgotten others, the players themselves knew their need for each other. Their mutual assistance was a microcosm of how people can work together toward a common goal and a good illustration of the call of the Christian community to be teammates, working together in the cause of the Lord.
Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, his second great book of scripture, describes the lives of the first devoted followers of Jesus Christ, namely the Christian community. We hear about how they chose their leaders, especially after Judas' defection and betrayal of Jesus. Luke also describes the prayer life of this fledgling community. In today's lesson we are provided with important insight into the common life that these men and women lived. This communal lifestyle was the foundation from which their mission of the promulgation of Jesus' message would be generated. Besides their rock faith, the communal life was the great source of strength. It helped the community to live a common ethic and vision; it provided a base from which the works of the Lord could be generated. It was a way of life that marked who they were and thus became a source of the witness that was necessary for the community to recruit new members and to be visible in the midst of a non-believing society.
The community life which the apostles and other disciples of Jesus led was marked by four basic elements. First, Luke tells us that the members were in unity of mind and heart. This element was most basic; it was the ideal from which all the others flowed. Next, the community members shared all their possessions. This does not mean that people did not have personal property, but rather that members of the new way shared the things they had with others. Third, the fledgling community was marked by its powerful witness of the gospel. This was the group's common ministry; it was the way people demonstrated their belief and proclaimed the message of Christ to the world. Lastly, the community was special in that the grace of God rested upon its members. God was with this group of men and women in a special way. It was to this group that the Holy Spirit was originally sent. The community life of these first followers of Jesus was not imposed upon them, but rather, was voluntarily accepted. This was the way these men and women chose to live their lives of discipleship.
The ideas that Luke expresses as part of the communal life of the first Christians have their genesis in two basic arenas. Some of these concepts have their roots in Greek ideals and practice. Greeks of the period shared a common myth that people in primitive times lived in an ideal state in which there was no personal ownership; everything was held in common. For the Greeks as well friendship meant that people held everything in common. This idea was expressed best by Aristotle who called a friendship "one soul dwelling in two bodies." The Old Testament is also an important source for the community ideals of the first Christians. In Deuteronomy (15:4ff) we are told that God established the ideal in Israel that there would be no needy members in the community, but rather, all would share. The ideas of the Jews and Greeks was brought together by Jesus himself. When Luke reports that things would be sold and the proceeds laid at the feet of the apostles, he is referring to the Christian community's common effort to serve Jesus and the mission. All was to be laid at the feet of the apostles, who represented Jesus.
The Christian ideal articulated in today's lesson from Acts appears to be in direct conflict with our contemporary world. We are accustomed to leaders and followers, to those with great power and those with little, to those with many resources and to those with few, to those with much influence and to those with barely any, to those with privilege and to those without. We are also accustomed to people "doing their own thing," to entrepreneurs who make it big, to those who make the headlines of the daily newspapers because of their personal exploits and accomplishments. Contemporary life almost programs us to seek the highest and most lucrative position, the best salary, and the most influential friends. This is the era of the individual. The ideal of teamwork is not in vogue; its importance seems to have been lost on contemporary society. The common good and goal are not viewed with the importance they once held in our world. These ideals have become subservient to the individual.
An image from the ancient Greek drama Oedipus Rex accurately describes the situation of people today. In the play the protagonist is asked what has become known as the Riddle of the Sphinx: "What has four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?" The answer is a human being. In the early days of our life we crawl and, thus, use four "legs" to get around. We are totally dependent upon others for everything at this stage in our life. We are willing to be fed, changed, carried, put to bed. Our independence is minimal. In the great afternoon or middle of life, we walk upright on two feet. Gradually as we mature we become more and more independent and, thus, less and less dependent on others. There is no need to be a team player at this stage in life since we can do all that we need done by ourselves. In the latter stages of life, for many there is again the need for a third leg, a cane, walker, or a helping hand. We revert to the need of our childhood; we are more open to people helping us as we simply cannot do these things alone. We are once again team players. The Riddle of the Sphinx demonstrates that the majority of our life is spent in a mode of autonomy and self help; we feel we are a burden if we seek assistance or play as a team. We will do all that we can ourselves for as long as it is possible. This is our world today, but it need not be that way.
We need to be converted to the reality that we need each other. Simply because autonomy and independence rule today should not mean that these concepts are the ideal. Maybe we can learn something about teamwork from the Four Horsemen and Seven Mules, the understanding of the ancient Greeks, and especially those first followers of Jesus. The common good of all believers must be the ideal we strive to reach in our lives.
How can we be true teammates in the mission that is the cause of the Lord? First, we must possess an attitude of equality that does not allow us to place ourselves above others. Inequality among peoples can be seen in societal structures, companies and businesses, and even the church where people in positions of power and authority use these devices in ways that are self-aggrandizing or harmful to others. Another attitude is necessary, one that demonstrates solidarity with those we lead and appreciation for the gifts and talents others possess. There is no need to compromise one's ability to lead and supervise, but the methods we use in these positions of authority are critical.
We must lead by example. If we are to be true teammates with the Christian community, we cannot separate ourselves from the whole. We must be willing to do what everyone else does, to proverbially get our hands dirty in our daily tasks, whatever they may be. Those on a team should not feel that others are too important to "lower themselves" to do tasks assigned to others. Should we not be willing to do anything that we ask another person to do?
True teammates give encouragement to others. We are at our best when we help others, through our words and actions, to give their best effort. We demonstrate good teamwork when we take the time to congratulate others on what they have accomplished; we need to say, "Thank you," and truly mean it when someone does something for us, even if it be some routine and generally accepted act of kindness. We must never be demeaning to others in our words, exalting our self-importance, especially to the detriment of others.
The need and ability to share is also critical to good teamwork. Can we be true teammates in the cause of the Lord when one person has an abundance and others live in want? How can a true community of the faithful be formed when we separate ourselves from others because of the advantages and opportunities that have come our way? Do we, as individual Christians, as a church community, as a state or nation, owe anything to those who through no fault of their own or lack of initiative, but mostly through unfortunate circumstance, have not been productive, made the grade, or achieved what others expected of them?
Teamwork does not happen overnight; it will take time, but we must begin today. Excuses will always be present, but we cannot allow these to cloud our vision. Our mission and cause, the work of Jesus Christ, is far too valuable to allow personal pride, arrogance, or need for self-gratification to get in the way. We need to be teammates in our common goal of building the Kingdom of God in our world.
Our work is the work of Christ for we are his body, as Saint Paul reminds us (1 Corinthians 12). We act most strongly as teammates when we become the Christ to others. Saint Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic and church reformer, expressed this idea powerfully in a famous prayer: "Christ has no hands but yours, no hands no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Christ has no hands but yours." My friends, may we believe, act, and profess the same!
Who were the Four Horsemen? Elmer Layden, Harry Stuldreher, Jim Crowley, and Don Miller were the talented offensive backfield for the Notre Dame football team in the late 1920s. There is no doubt that they were great players. Football fans then and now remember their names and their exploits on the gridiron. All four have been enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Most people know, however, that there are eleven players on a football team. What about the other seven? Who were they; what did they do? History knows them as the "Seven Mules." Few if anyone remember their names; only one of them, "Rip" Miller, is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. Still, I am certain that the Four Horsemen knew them. In fact, the same Grantland Rice who immortalized the Horsemen said that this talented backfield attributed all their success to the Mules. They were the ones who stood in front, did the blocking, ran interference, and paved the way for the two halfbacks, the fullback, and quarterback to run the plays, score touchdowns, and bring victory to Notre Dame.
The Four Horsemen and the Seven Mules were a team. They knew that they needed each other. Without the Mules the Horsemen probably would have been an ordinary college football backfield. But the combination of the Mules and the Horsemen brought greatness, fame, and legend to Miller, Layden, Crowley, and Stuldreher, and to Notre Dame football as well.
The fabled Four Horseman and the unheralded Seven Mules were a team that worked together and in the process brought fame and legend to college football. While the sports world may remember certain members of this fabled team, and seemingly forgotten others, the players themselves knew their need for each other. Their mutual assistance was a microcosm of how people can work together toward a common goal and a good illustration of the call of the Christian community to be teammates, working together in the cause of the Lord.
Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, his second great book of scripture, describes the lives of the first devoted followers of Jesus Christ, namely the Christian community. We hear about how they chose their leaders, especially after Judas' defection and betrayal of Jesus. Luke also describes the prayer life of this fledgling community. In today's lesson we are provided with important insight into the common life that these men and women lived. This communal lifestyle was the foundation from which their mission of the promulgation of Jesus' message would be generated. Besides their rock faith, the communal life was the great source of strength. It helped the community to live a common ethic and vision; it provided a base from which the works of the Lord could be generated. It was a way of life that marked who they were and thus became a source of the witness that was necessary for the community to recruit new members and to be visible in the midst of a non-believing society.
The community life which the apostles and other disciples of Jesus led was marked by four basic elements. First, Luke tells us that the members were in unity of mind and heart. This element was most basic; it was the ideal from which all the others flowed. Next, the community members shared all their possessions. This does not mean that people did not have personal property, but rather that members of the new way shared the things they had with others. Third, the fledgling community was marked by its powerful witness of the gospel. This was the group's common ministry; it was the way people demonstrated their belief and proclaimed the message of Christ to the world. Lastly, the community was special in that the grace of God rested upon its members. God was with this group of men and women in a special way. It was to this group that the Holy Spirit was originally sent. The community life of these first followers of Jesus was not imposed upon them, but rather, was voluntarily accepted. This was the way these men and women chose to live their lives of discipleship.
The ideas that Luke expresses as part of the communal life of the first Christians have their genesis in two basic arenas. Some of these concepts have their roots in Greek ideals and practice. Greeks of the period shared a common myth that people in primitive times lived in an ideal state in which there was no personal ownership; everything was held in common. For the Greeks as well friendship meant that people held everything in common. This idea was expressed best by Aristotle who called a friendship "one soul dwelling in two bodies." The Old Testament is also an important source for the community ideals of the first Christians. In Deuteronomy (15:4ff) we are told that God established the ideal in Israel that there would be no needy members in the community, but rather, all would share. The ideas of the Jews and Greeks was brought together by Jesus himself. When Luke reports that things would be sold and the proceeds laid at the feet of the apostles, he is referring to the Christian community's common effort to serve Jesus and the mission. All was to be laid at the feet of the apostles, who represented Jesus.
The Christian ideal articulated in today's lesson from Acts appears to be in direct conflict with our contemporary world. We are accustomed to leaders and followers, to those with great power and those with little, to those with many resources and to those with few, to those with much influence and to those with barely any, to those with privilege and to those without. We are also accustomed to people "doing their own thing," to entrepreneurs who make it big, to those who make the headlines of the daily newspapers because of their personal exploits and accomplishments. Contemporary life almost programs us to seek the highest and most lucrative position, the best salary, and the most influential friends. This is the era of the individual. The ideal of teamwork is not in vogue; its importance seems to have been lost on contemporary society. The common good and goal are not viewed with the importance they once held in our world. These ideals have become subservient to the individual.
An image from the ancient Greek drama Oedipus Rex accurately describes the situation of people today. In the play the protagonist is asked what has become known as the Riddle of the Sphinx: "What has four legs in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three in the evening?" The answer is a human being. In the early days of our life we crawl and, thus, use four "legs" to get around. We are totally dependent upon others for everything at this stage in our life. We are willing to be fed, changed, carried, put to bed. Our independence is minimal. In the great afternoon or middle of life, we walk upright on two feet. Gradually as we mature we become more and more independent and, thus, less and less dependent on others. There is no need to be a team player at this stage in life since we can do all that we need done by ourselves. In the latter stages of life, for many there is again the need for a third leg, a cane, walker, or a helping hand. We revert to the need of our childhood; we are more open to people helping us as we simply cannot do these things alone. We are once again team players. The Riddle of the Sphinx demonstrates that the majority of our life is spent in a mode of autonomy and self help; we feel we are a burden if we seek assistance or play as a team. We will do all that we can ourselves for as long as it is possible. This is our world today, but it need not be that way.
We need to be converted to the reality that we need each other. Simply because autonomy and independence rule today should not mean that these concepts are the ideal. Maybe we can learn something about teamwork from the Four Horsemen and Seven Mules, the understanding of the ancient Greeks, and especially those first followers of Jesus. The common good of all believers must be the ideal we strive to reach in our lives.
How can we be true teammates in the mission that is the cause of the Lord? First, we must possess an attitude of equality that does not allow us to place ourselves above others. Inequality among peoples can be seen in societal structures, companies and businesses, and even the church where people in positions of power and authority use these devices in ways that are self-aggrandizing or harmful to others. Another attitude is necessary, one that demonstrates solidarity with those we lead and appreciation for the gifts and talents others possess. There is no need to compromise one's ability to lead and supervise, but the methods we use in these positions of authority are critical.
We must lead by example. If we are to be true teammates with the Christian community, we cannot separate ourselves from the whole. We must be willing to do what everyone else does, to proverbially get our hands dirty in our daily tasks, whatever they may be. Those on a team should not feel that others are too important to "lower themselves" to do tasks assigned to others. Should we not be willing to do anything that we ask another person to do?
True teammates give encouragement to others. We are at our best when we help others, through our words and actions, to give their best effort. We demonstrate good teamwork when we take the time to congratulate others on what they have accomplished; we need to say, "Thank you," and truly mean it when someone does something for us, even if it be some routine and generally accepted act of kindness. We must never be demeaning to others in our words, exalting our self-importance, especially to the detriment of others.
The need and ability to share is also critical to good teamwork. Can we be true teammates in the cause of the Lord when one person has an abundance and others live in want? How can a true community of the faithful be formed when we separate ourselves from others because of the advantages and opportunities that have come our way? Do we, as individual Christians, as a church community, as a state or nation, owe anything to those who through no fault of their own or lack of initiative, but mostly through unfortunate circumstance, have not been productive, made the grade, or achieved what others expected of them?
Teamwork does not happen overnight; it will take time, but we must begin today. Excuses will always be present, but we cannot allow these to cloud our vision. Our mission and cause, the work of Jesus Christ, is far too valuable to allow personal pride, arrogance, or need for self-gratification to get in the way. We need to be teammates in our common goal of building the Kingdom of God in our world.
Our work is the work of Christ for we are his body, as Saint Paul reminds us (1 Corinthians 12). We act most strongly as teammates when we become the Christ to others. Saint Teresa of Avila, the sixteenth century mystic and church reformer, expressed this idea powerfully in a famous prayer: "Christ has no hands but yours, no hands no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Christ has no hands but yours." My friends, may we believe, act, and profess the same!
