What inning is tis?

“It ain’t over, till the fat lady sings.”

                     Yogi Berra

Some of my interests lie in the fields of business, finance and economics.  Experts in these fields are often asked a simple but important question:  “What inning is this?”    Knowing this is as critical to success in the game of Wall Street as it is to winning the World Series.  

What inning is this?  It is a question we’ve all been asking for the past seven weeks.

This Sunday’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles continues to chronicle our church’s first innings.  There is exponential growth; so much so, the community experiences growing pains.  

In the second reading Peter challenges the Church to come to Christ a “living stone” making Him the cornerstone.  This image of a cornerstone comes from the writings of Isaiah more than 700 years before the birth of Christ.  

Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD:

See, I am laying a stone in Zion,

a stone that has been tested,

A precious cornerstone as a sure foundation;

whoever puts faith in it will not waver.

Isaiah 28:16

By laying down his life Christ laid the cornerstone of His Church.

As our church emerges from the tomb of quarantine we are faced with an important question:   What inning is this?

Is it the ninth inning?  If it is, then perhaps we should play it safe.  We can create a game-plan to avoid loss.  We can sure up the defense and sit our home run hitters on the bench.  Is this faith?  Would this approach reflect a Christ that is a living stone?  Or should we play like it’s opening day; a church where hope springs eternal.     

Shouldn’t a church formed by resurrection look and act differently than one that has simply been resuscitated? 

My personal response can be summed up by the words of Cosmo Kramer:  “In my mind, I’m already there.”

So what about it?  Shall we recreate a past that no longer exists?  Or can we envision a church of the future - God’s future.  

I conclude with a quote, a question and my Email address.

“In the rush to return to normal, 

use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.”  

Dave Hollis

Question:  What would St. Mary’s look like if we re-emerged in the early innings?

E-mail:    b.mauro1@yahoo.com

Awaiting your thoughts,

Bruce

PS

Thank you to all deacons, particularly our Deacon Ron Ronacher and soon-to-be deacon Carl Lordi for continuing the work of the seven sent in today’s first reading.

PPS

A Happy Mothers day to all who have nurtured us and prayers for those Mothers who are in the place God prepared for them.