Hold My Beer

Finding our courage and confidence in Christ  

Hebrews 12:1-4 

Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.   

          Where do you get the guts and gumption, the courage and the confidence to do something great? Do you know what Michael Phelps, the greatest Olympian of all time, eats every day? He consumes close to 12,000 calories per day. For breakfast he downs egg sandwiches, chocolate pancakes, French toast, grits, and a five-egg omelet. His lunch includes two ham and cheese sandwiches, energy drinks, and a pound of pasta. For dinner, it is a whole pizza and another pound of pasta. So, clearly all you have to do it eat all that and you, too, can win 22 gold medals. Or, maybe you lean more toward “liquid courage,” which is what rednecks calls alcohol. Liquid courage helps a redneck to do not so much heroic feats but definitely hilarious ones. If you want a good laugh, watch the Youtube video called, “Hold my beer, watch this!” Those are also the famous last words of a redneck, “Holy my beer, watch this!” Or maybe music gives you your “mojo,” and so you listen to your favorite playlist with Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen and Bon Jovi. Ask yourself: what makes your heart beat a little faster and makes you want to go do something great?   

          In the second reading today, the author of Hebrews gives us another motivation for greatness, namely, Jesus. So he says, “Brothers and sisters…keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” And why should we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus? He goes on, “In order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.” That is, better than gulping down 12,000 calories, or filling your belly with a bottle of liquid courage, or even listening to Rachel Platten sing, “This is my fight song,” keep your eyes on Jesus. Why? Well, because the greatness you will achieve in Jesus does not tarnish like a gold medal, or fade into history like a number one hit song. Rather, Jesus is the pioneer and perfecter of a greatness and glory that lasts into eternity, namely, the glory of the saints. In heaven the scene is more like this: Michael Phelps and Eddie Van Halen and John Bon Jovi will look in awe upon the saints and wonder: “What did they eat for breakfast and what was on their playlist??” You see, up and down the centuries those who achieve eternal greatness are the saints, those who kept their eyes fixed on Jesus.   

          Msgr. John O’Donnell, a former pastor of Immaculate Conception Church would greet the parishioners at the beginning of Mass by saying, “Good morning, Saints!” Now, technically, to be a saint you have to be dead, and I’m sure the good monsignor was not saying you all look like you’re dead. Nevertheless, Msgr. O’Donnell was right that everyone in church should strive for sainthood. May I mention a few saintly parishioners who strive more than most? Sharon Blentlinger, our school principal is one. She has been the principal for 30 years, and now she’s beginning her 31st year. She has educated thousands of students, seen boom times and bust times, and her biggest achievement is surviving 4 different pastors – she hasn’t survived me yet! You see, Sharon strives for sainthood by keeping her eyes fixed on Jesus.   

          Another saintly striver is Steven Werley. I didn’t ask his wife Surennah if I could mention Steve, and that’s why I am able to mention him. But Steve regularly comes to mow the grounds with me at Trinity Junior High, and he never utters a cross word or complaint. For full disclosure, Steve also brings a little liquid courage along, so he’s still got a little way to go to be a saint, and by the way, I do, too because I enjoy the liquid courage also.   

          Today, I’d like to point out Dianne and Andy Strecker, who are also striving to be saints and who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary today. You know, you have to be a saint to be married for 50 years! In a moment they will renew their vows, and we’ll see if they can still remember them! I always wonder how people make it to 50 years being married to the same person, and I think Andy and Dianne’s secret is Jesus. You see, they have kept their eyes fixed on Jesus and they have not “grown weary or lost heart” like the Letter to the Hebrews said. You should know that Dianne is also one of our dedicated Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick, which means she takes Holy Communion to the hospital once a week. She helps the sick to keep their eyes fixed on Jesus, so they also will not “grow weary or lose heart.”   

          Folks do you feel a little weary, or have you lost a little heart lately? Do you need something to get you out of bed in the morning and to go for the gold every day? Well, don’t reach for the five-egg omelet or put liquid courage to your lips, or replay Katy Perry’s song “Roar.” Rather, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Only by following Jesus will you find a glory that echoes in eternity, and doesn’t just fade on earth. And then you, too, can say, “Hold my beer; watch this!” Why? Well, because then you won’t need the beer to do something great.   

          Praised be Jesus Christ!