LIKE A DOT ON A BASKETBALL

 

Do you like basketball? All around the world a lot of boys and girls love to play basketball even if they are not that good at it. It is one of the most popular sports on the planet. All you need is a basketball and a hoop or a basket with the bottom removed.

There was a man from Aliquippa who became one of the best basketball players of all time. His name was Pete Maravich, and everyone knew him as Pistol Pete Maravich. His father was Press Maravich, and he was Pete’s coach. He taught Pete everything he knew about basketball.

Press was also a college coach. One day, when his players were not doing what he told them to do, Press held a basketball up near his head, and said to his players, “This is what I know.” He was telling them that he knew basketball. Then he took a pen and made a dot on the basketball and told his players, “This is what you know.” He was telling them that they knew nothing.

I tell you that story because in our first reading today (Job 38:4-18), God speaks to Job. God questions Job, like the coach who challenges his players. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place? Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep?” … This goes on for several chapters, until Job finally admits that he is nothing and knows nothing, and says, “I cover my mouth with my hand.” It reminds us that compared to what God knows, we are like that dot on the basketball.

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.