Long before I came to the USA, I enjoyed watching American Football on a British TV channel. Just the highlights and some analysis were enough to satisfy my appetite. Then, in the fall of 2018, I was baptized into the local culture of football mania with various shows to feast upon and endless hours of football interspersed by just as many food, beverage and truck commercials. Such gluttony was unsustainable, and when we acquired three small children, there was no longer the time or opportunity for the football watching habit to continue except for the play-offs and the Superbowl itself.
This year, I might just get permission to see more of the play-offs and the big event with the family because at least one of our children is keen to play flag football. Therefore, this weekend, I’m hoping that we can catch up with the season we have missed by total immersion in the grid-iron culture once more as those first play-off games get under way.
Who will you be rooting for, or will you remain neutral? It’s always good to support the local team, but then, you may have other loyalties such as your favorite players, your hometown or even just your preference of uniform colors. I like to begin neutral but usually opt to support either the underdog or the team which plays clean and fair. If the two are the same, then all well and good.
Even though I grew up playing a two other kinds of football, there is a need for resident aliens like myself to identify and connect with the local citizens and inhabitants of this land. By doing so, I can begin to understand their passion and enthusiasm for the sport and enter into the experience of being American in some small way.
When Jesus came from Heaven to earth, He was both God and fully human and in order for Him to understand our human condition, He needed to embrace His humanity. This is why, though He was perfect and holy and without sin, He still needed to baptized in order to identify with us. This week, we encounter Jesus as we revisit His baptism in the River Jordan. It marks the beginning of His earthly ministry and Matthew’s account introduces us to the Holy Trinity, when God spoke, saying “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” And in that moment, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like dove.
As we reflect on how Jesus identifies with us in our humanity, let us not forget to make time for Him in prayer so that we might be immersed in His presence and seek to connect with Him as His disciples.