COACH JESUS

 

What are some titles we give to people to show them our respect? We call a lot of adult Mr. or Mrs. or Miss, such as our teachers, neighbors or friends’ parents. We call our parents Mom and Dad or Mother and Father. We address certain people by their professional title, such as Officer, Doctor or Pastor. Even as adults, we refer to people who once influenced us by titles, such as Coach. We referred to a coach at our high school as Sarge.

My reason for telling you that is that we have titles for Jesus. People referred to Jesus by his name or by Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus the Galilean. Others called him Teacher, Rabbi or Son of David. His disciples called him Lord or Master. We refer to Jesus as Christ, Son of God, Son of Man or King.

All of these titles remind us that even as adults, we respect those who taught us or coached us, including Jesus. Have you ever considered Jesus to be your Coach?

How does Jesus coach us? A lot of his coaching deals with faith, hope, love, forgiveness, obedience, humility and more. He also coaches us to deal with people. He coached his disciples to deal with adults and children, with people who were not Jewish, including a Roman officer.

2000 later, Jesus still coaches us. In our Gospel (Mt 10:21-33), Jesus said, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the disciple to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” How are we going to be like Coach Jesus? By doing what he teaches.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.