I’m driving along the thruway tuned to national public radio that has invited a radio sports announcer to share his thoughts about ‘the best moments in baseball history.” In his opinion, his colleague Vince Scully announced the greatest moment in baseball when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record. Scully captured that historic moment in a way that was like writing a best selling novel.Henry Aaron came to the plate for his second bat of the game. He walked in the second inning and now he took a ball on the first pitch. Downing was the pitcher and on the second pitch, you heard Vince announce: “Butler goes to the fence and… it is gone.” Pandemonium broke out and you just hear the sound of booming fireworks in the background on the radio. Vince stopped for a few moments for his radio listeners to listen and share in the joy of the fans as Henry rounded the bases.
“What a marvelous moment for baseball. What a marvelous moment for Atlanta and the State of Georgia. What a marvelous moment for the country and the world. A Black man is getting a standing ovation in the Deep South for breaking the record of the all time idol of baseball. This is a great moment for all of us and particularly Henry Aaron.”
Now I wonder how a radio sportscaster might announce the events of the Last Supper. Here are the players gathered in the upper room, their leader comes to the table ready to lead his team into the Passover meal. But before they begin their prayers, Jesus excuses himself from the table and returns with an apron wrapped around his waist with a basin of water. Curious, his teammates wonder what this gesture is all about.
This player gets down on his knees and starts to wash the feet of Paul. His fellow teammates are astounded that Jesus would perform such a menial task usually left for the servants. At this moment, there is awkward silence not a standing ovation. They sit uneasy in their seats and simply watch as he rounds the table performing this washing ritual for each member of the team.
One player puts up a stink; it is Peter who doesn’t understand the meaning of this moment. But Jesus quickly settles him down and says that it’s OK. Not to worry, nothing bad will happen to you and we all will be eating soon in the Kingdom of Heaven. For now, put aside your protest and feeling inadequate for I need to do this for you. Then the announcer says:
“What a marvelous moment for salvation history. What a marvelous moment for Galilee and the Nation of Israel. What a marvelous moment for the world and the universe. A Jew from a Roman occupied colony is getting the most profound admiration for breaking the rules of the Mosaic tradition. What a great moment for all of us and particularly for Jesus.” Is this not the best moment of Jesus in biblical history?
God prays for us as we reflect: “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13: 15).
Lord, I pray for all my Sonshine Friends on Easter morning, waiting for our turn at the plate to swing our bat and hit a homerun. Help us to wrap ourselves in the towel of compassion for at that moment God and all the angels of heaven will give us a standing ovation. What a marvelous moment for heaven and for each of you.
