A Hole in One and THE HOLY ONE!

This week I'm spending my time on vacation watching golf at Valhalla Golf Course. 156 of the worlds millions of golfers qualified to play in the PGA Championship Tournament. On Friday evening that number was cut to 76 golfers. Only one will hoist the Wanamaker Trophy on Sunday evening (if the rain doesn't suspend play), and thus be declared the 2014 PGA Champion of the year.

I have been impressed by the skills of these pros. Their drives go further than eye can see. They are deadly accurate with their pitches and chips. They are able to negotiate the undulating and deadly fast greens with their putters with a skill way beyond my imagining. The way they got so good at golf is the same way that we achieve anything in life. Yes they have skills that they may have been be born with. There are golfers out here who were spectacular golfers when they were in primary school. Campbellsville native, J. B. Holmes, was on the Taylor County High School varsity golf team as a third grader. But practice and focus is what makes them as sharp as they are. Most of these golfers spend two or three hours on the practice range and putting green before they go out and tee it up. A lot of them go back to the green and or driving range for some practice after they are done playing. Watching their practice rounds they will take various shots from multiple locations on the golf course to get used to how the course plays from all the different angles and situations that they may face during the tournament. When they get to the green they will putt, pitch and chip from every direction toward every possible hole placement in order to get those scenarios stashed in their skill sets. Their practice is all about helping them get their game focused. Practice helps them hone their skills. Practice creates a strategy to be the one who is named champion. In practice they focus on what they need to do and how they need to play to succeed.

In the Gospel this weekend St. Peter is invited by Jesus to join Him on a stroll on top of the Sea of Galilee. He sank because he focused on his fear and himself instead of His Lord. In this story from the Gospel of Matthew Peter was enthusiastic and successful at walking on the water at first because his focus was on getting to his Friend, Master and Lord. Whenever he realized what he was doing and started to fear he sank like a stone. Without Jesus' life saving grasp Peter would have been another Sea of Galilee drowning victim.

This Sunday's Gospel and the PGA Championship make me think about the focus of my life, our lives. A lot of us may remember the first couple of catechism questions we had to learn: Q: Who made you? A: God made me. Q: Why did God make you? A. God made me to know Him, love Him, and serve Him in this world and live with Him in the next. THAT is still our FOCUS! No matter what life throws at us those who are able to focus on God in all things will be crowned Champion by God in the next life with God forever with Him. This FOCUS will also endure the struggles and tragedies of this life with a Grace that makes the crap of life more bearable. The ways to have that focus and keep that focus is the same as for successful golfers, and temporarily for St. Peter; practice and keeping our eyes on the Goal.

In faith and life practice and focus include intimate and regular prayer. Having a prayerful relationship with the One Who made you and Who also loves you more intimately than you can imagine is the centerpiece of a faithful, successful, and eventually eternal life. Good scripture and faith studies or reading are also essential. Worship with a community and having faithful friends or mentors keeps you honest and supported in your quest. And service for others and with others helps you round out your practice to be like Our Master in the ways of compassion. Prayer, study, worship and service help us focus our gaze on the Lord.

Knowing God, loving God, and serving God in this life are still the ways to be a true success here on earth and eventually a winner of the Eternal Championship.

Peace,
Fr. Chuck Walker