The Cubs traded Tony Campana today.  Yes, I know...this blog is supposed to be about spiritual things, especially with a title like "Resurrection in Chicago."

 Well, at least this piece is about Chicago.  Yes, about Chicago and the hapless Cubs.

We've got some brilliant tactians in the Cubs front office who think they know what we as fans want.
We want a winning team, right? The Cubs haven't won a World Series for over a hundred years.  It's embarassing.  The Chicago Cubs need to win a pennant and the World Series, soon. Otherwise, the team is going to lose fan support and eventually just fade away as a major league team.

What  a crock! Cub fans come to see exciting baseball. The fans who go toWrigley Field for the most part, understand  the game of baseball. The fans actually love it. They are different from the fans who go to the other Chicago baseball park. Many of those fans wouldn't know a double-play from a double latte.  Those fans come late and leave early.  They stand in the aisles and talk in small groups, socializing, drinks in hand. "Oh yeah, I guess there is a baseball game going on but listen to what happened in the office yesterday."

Cub fans sit in their seats and agonize throughout most games. They drink beer.  They know a ground-rule double from Double Mint gum.  Cub fans want to see excellent, fundamental baseball and, yes the fans want the Cubs to win every game. But winning is not the only thing.  For Cubs fans it is how you play the game. That's why during these past two years we have come to love to see Tony Campana get on first.

He looks like a pick-up guy from the neighborhood who you'd put in right field.  He's small, like a bat-boy among real ball players. Tony has a quirky, child-like smile which seems to say, aw shucks, I shouldn't be here with these big guys.

Tony Campana, though is fast, real fast.   When Tony Campana's name is announced, you can hear a murmur from the crowd.  They are not saying I hope he gets a home run.  They are saying, I hope he gets on. When he gets on first, he takes long leads while the next batter sets himself for the first pitch.
He feints toward second and ambles far from the base as if he is not paying attention.  The pitcher keeps throwing to first, trying to keep Tony close to first. But, there he is way off the base again, always moving, distracting the pitcher.

Finally, there he goes! He races to second base and after a head-first dive, he's standing on second, brushing the dirt off of his Cub uniform as the fans chant "To-ny-To-ny,To-ny." They want Tony Campana to steal third.  On the first pitch, he's off again.  The catcher throws a bullet to the third baseman but Tony Campana in a cloud of dust rises to a standing  position on third.

Tony Campana plays baseball like Cub fans want to see it played.  If the front office guys miss this --which they might because they are not from Chicago-- they miss the main thing about fans from the North Side. Cub fans dislike losing but what they really hate is bad fundamental baseball, the kind of baseball the Cubs have been playing this year.

Now Tony Campana has been traded to the Arizona Diamond-backs. Tony lacks power and has a mediocre on-base percentage. So, he was disposable.

Give us a winning team, sure. We'd love to win a pennant and a World Series. But, hey you guys in the front office, give us baseball played with the exitement and passion of Tony Campana.























 

Benedict XVI, the Reluctant Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI is retiring, effective Feb. 28 at 8 PM. He sets aside the shoes of the fisherman and walks away from the papacy in spiritual loafers.

If John-Paul II is called "John-Paul the Great," then Benedict XVI could be remembered as the "Reluctant Pope." Though he smiles a lot and gives wonderful  theological and pastoral addresses, he has never really seemed to be comfortable in his role as Pontifex Maximus, iconic leader of more than one billion Catholics.

 Where  John-Paul II was a trained actor, a seasoned dramatist, a poet, a visionary and a brilliant, original philosopher, Benedict XVI is a theologian and a professor who loves the give and take of classical teaching.

Benedict XVI often seems unsure of himself within the culture of diplomats and politicians. I think he yearns to teach again and will find some way to do it. He seems at home with students and has a soft spot in his heart for seminary students.

Before he was pope, Joseph Ratzinger was cardinal prefect of the  Doctrine of the Faith, formerly, the Holy Office, and before that the Roman Inquistion.  That being said, let me tell you a little story that reveals something of the character of Joseph Ratzinger.

I have a friend who belonged to a United Church of Christ congregation and was their pastor. He, along with his wife and children converted to the Catholic Church  during Ratzinger's tenure as Cardinal Prefect of theCongregation of the Doctrine of the Faith.

My friend studied privately with priests and his bishop, all the while hoping that someday he could again preach the Gospel, this time as a Roman Catholic priest. It would require a dispensation from priestly celibacy, an unusual request with little chance of success, especially, because Cardinal Ratzinger,  "God's Rothweiler" was guarding the priestly path.

 I prayed with my friend that somehow the dispensation would be granted and a way would be opened for him to be ordained to the priesthood.

Then, one morning the phone rang.   It was my friend ecstatic with the news that he had just received a letter of dispensation from the vow of celibacy and permission to be ordained a priest.  "And, it's signed by Cardinal Ratzinger," he said.

My friend is now a pastor of a large Roman Catholic parish.  His wife and children are accepted by his parishioners.  (His son calls him "Father Squared.") You can imagine the postive regard that this married priest has for the present vicar of Christ.

Benedict XVI was a good pope, even a great pope. Though he was reluctant to be in the world's spotlight, he remains a dedicated and kind man. Perhaps, "Benedict, the Kind" might be the most fitting way to remember Joseph Ratzinger as he walks away from the papacy.
 

Puerto Rico, Bird-Speak

I went to Puerto Rico for three reasons: to visit the tomb of Ponce De Leon; to practice my Spanish; and, to enjoy a brief vacation.

My mind is now vacated. My Spanish is upgraded (or down-graded if you think Puerto Rican Spanish is a bit south of the King's Spanish) and I found out that Ponce De Leon is buried, not in Ponce, as I thought, but in San Juan, in the cathedral, no less.

I didn't tell you about my hope for this visit which was underlying all of the above: I prayed that Our Lord would reveal some aspect of His face to me there. It's a prayer I often pray because I seem to be more impressionable when I am watching and listening.

I sought Him in churches and in the faces of those who knelt there.
I thought maybe he would show up while I prayed at quiet places outside and inside the hotels.
No, I didn't see Him in either place.

I listened for Him in talk, the talk of those who were with me on this trip. My companions did not sound like Him, though they were for the most part kind and agreeable. I wonder if he passed by and I did not recognize Him. Maybe he spoke to me and I didn't listen or even recognize his voice.

However, I did see something of Him when sparrows came and, like me, searched and twittered. They stayed awhile each day, moving around to catch my attention. Every once in a while they sang.