Team Jesus

Learning that teams are stronger than individuals

10/13/2017

Luke 11:15-26 When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

             Today I want to talk to you about the difference between a team and an individual, and show you that the team is always stronger. Someone who believed very strongly in teams and teamwork was Coach John Wooden. He was the head basketball coach at UCLA and his team won 10 national championships and 7 of them in back to back. No one has ever done that. He was called “The Wizard of Westwood” because that’s the area Los Angeles that UCLA is located in. He had 3 rules for his players. (1) No profanity (that’s cussing). (2) Never criticize a teammate. And (3) never be late. Pretty simple rules, but also very important ones to build a strong team.

                Coach Wooden had a simple demonstration to prove that a team is always better than an individual, no matter how talented that individual might be. I would like to show you that demonstration now. I will need some volunteers. Who is the best of the best of the best of the 6th grade boys who plays basketball? Now, who are the two of the best of the best of the best girl basketball players in 6th grade? I have two basketballs here and will give one to the boy, and ask him to dribble the ball as fast as he can down the center aisle of the church. I have another basketball here and I’d like one girl to stand here at one end of the aisle and throw it to the girl at the other end of the aisle. When I say “Go!” the boy will dribble the basketball as fast as he can while the girl will throw the ball to her teammate. Let’s see who can get the ball to the other end of the aisle the fastest. Ready? Go! As you can see, a team is always more powerful than an individual, even if that individual were LeBron James.

                In the gospel today, Jesus tries to teach the people about the power of a team and teamwork. He says there are two great teams that play against each other in the universe. The team of Satan and the team of Jesus. And Jesus says that if either team doesn’t work together, they will be beaten by the other team. He says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and every house will fall against house.” In other words, Jesus would have the same three rules of Coach Wooden: “No profanity, never criticize a teammate, and never show up late.” Teams that criticize each other will be beaten. Jesus also says: “If you are not with me, you are against me.” Boys and girls, how many of you want to be on “Team Jesus”? Everyone raise your hands!

               Many of you already belong to many teams. Maybe you are on a basketball team, or perhaps you belong to a baseball team. Are any of you on a rugby team? Thank goodness! But I also want you to think of other teams we don’t usually call “teams.” But they are really far more important teams than sports teams. Your school is a team – look, you even wear the same uniforms like teams do. Don’t criticize your teammates. Your family is a team – you all have the same last name: Team Hernandez, Team Borengasser, Team Garcia, Team Caldarera, Team Alder. Never criticize your teammates. And this Church is a team, too. It’s not “Team Fr. John,” rather it’s “Team Jesus.” Never criticize your teammates. Try to follow Coach Wooden’s rule, and Jesus’ example, in all these teams: never criticize your teammates.

             One day I told a team I was coaching that there is no letter “I” in the word “Team.” One of the players was trying to be funny and said, “But Fr. John, there is a letter ‘I’ in the word ‘win’.” I answered: “You are correct, that there’s an ‘I’ in ‘win.’ But that’s because individuals win games, while teams win championships,” like 10 national championships.

Praised be Jesus Christ!