I am not a football fan. Soccer, yes. American football, no. I don't pretend to understand the plays or strategy of the game. As an outside observer, it looks, sounds, and smells like a bunch of sweaty muscular guys crashing their bodies together on Sunday afternoon television.
Yes, every once in a while I will find myself caught up in the completed pass with the accompanying athletic dash for the end zone, yelling and screaming like those who are fans of the game. This is not my point here, only a confession.
The life of faith as a I see it is a disciplined obedient following after Jesus who has given me everything. I have not arrived. I am a learner. I place myself under his tutelage.
In football the last-second desperation pass is called a Hail Mary. Made famous by Roger Staubach during the a division playoff game with the Vikings in the old Metrodome, his completed pass won the game for the Dallas Cowboys. For all I know, I was actually watching the game but I don't recall it. I should remember such a memorable event but then again maybe not.
Seminary taught me many things but we never studied the theology of the "Hail Mary." Theology means the study of God. Mariology is the study of Mary. "Hailmariology" doesn't exist. It is not found in the curriculum of a theology class.
If defined, "Hailmariology" markets a false god who magically rescues its followers in the last minutes of the game despite other choices (or lack of them) in the preceding time alloted.
The "Hail Mary pass" has no place in my life. Consistent, thoughtful, and costly are the words I would use to describe the life to which I am called to live. "Hailmariology" is bad theology. Actually it is not a theology at all.
Yes, I said I was not a football fan.
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