Good Friday question

[valenzuelaf]

I have a dilemma. I am a Co Coach / Player of a Softball team and our first game is on Good Friday. I always fast and keep the day as humble as possible. I feel like I have a comitment to my team and need to participate in the game, but I know my obligations to Jesus are greater. Would it be totally wrong for me to participate. Please advise.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

**Judging by some responses in the Ask An Apologist forum, I would have to say that it would be wrong for you to participate. **

What would you do for a close family member’s death or illness? I can’t imagine you would still go …

Malia

 

[valenzuelaf]

Thanks for the Advice. My wife said the same thing. I am just struggling with it cause I am a Coach and I feel like I may not be respected by the team if I blow off the first game. None of them are religious and I’m afraid they wouldn’t understand.

 

[Eileen_T]

Lead by example. Show your team members that God comes first in your life.

We had a rugby player who was picked for the All Blacks, who had a rule that he would not play football (rugby) on Sundays. People thought he was stupid to do so but he eventually became acknowledged as the best player in the world.

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

valenzuelaf:

Thanks for the Advice. My wife said the same thing. I am just struggling with it cause I am a Coach and I feel like I may not be respected by the team if I blow off the first game. None of them are religious and I’m afraid they wouldn’t understand.

I totally understand where you are coming from, but didn’t Christ say that following him would NOT be easy? I think this is one of those times. Is it more important that your team mates like you, or that you please God? This is a wonderful opportunity to be a witness to the faith. You may plant a seed in a single one of those players that may not bear fruit for years…

Malia

 

[Lovemyfaith]

That is so sad. It isn’t like Good Friday is a secret; did the league have to schedule a game that day?

My birthday falls on Good Friday this year, but I am not a kid who would be disappointed not to have a party. Have you talked to the league about rescheduling?

 

[YinYangMom]

I always had to work on Good Friday…businesses aren’t closed, universities aren’t closed, etc.

What I’ve always done is take a late lunch on that day from 2:30 to 3:30 and I’ve either sat in my car or found a quiet place to pray for that one hour, and then visit the church on the way home from work that day.

As a coach you do have responsibilities to the team.
As a Catholic coach you’ve had plenty of time to make arrangements to find a substitute coach for this game, but if that didn’t occur to you prior to now, you are rather stuck.

If the games take place before noon or after 4 I wouldn’t worry too much.

If they take place between noon and 4 then you have a problem.
You have to find some way to stop everything you’re doing between 3pm and 4 pm (the hour of his death) to pray a divine mercy chaplet or something which focuses only on Christ.

As Abby noted, this is a wonderful opportunity to witness to the faith. Just like praying over a meal at a restaurant, imagine the message you will convey when you step aside from the sidelines on Friday to either sit or kneel with your rosary as you pray a divine mercy chaplet to yourself while life is going on around you. When you’re done with your chaplet and reflection on Christ’s death you return to the sideline without a word and get back to the business of coaching. People may look at you, but that’s their business…you won’t notice or feel their gazes because you’re focusing on Christ dying for you at that moment. The Spirit will help you block them out. People may or may not ask you about it after the game. If they do, you just say you had to take time out to acknowledge Christ’s death during that hour and then go about your business leaving them to ponder on that.

But if at all possible I hope all your games are over by 2 and you’ll be able to stop at a church afterwards to spend that last hour before the cross without having to be such a witness, as that’s quite a burden, I know. If not, then as you feel the weight of pressure as 3pm draws near remember the weight of the cross on Christ’s shoulders at about the same time.

Good luck working this out.

 

[aj830]

I’ve always wondered why they do not cancel school on this day. Even though it is not a Holy day of Obligation you think that the school system would be considerate of this very special day for Catholics or at least for the reason that it leads up to the weekend of the most important Christian day of the year.

 

[rosarywarrior]

My son goes to a Catholic High School. The athletic director consistently schedules games on Holy Days and this Holy Saturday he scheduled a baseball game that is 2 hours away and a double header. My son is NOT going and he is the pitcher. Easter is the most important time of our church and that includes Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday.

It amazes me that when games were scheduled during Spring break, it didn’t seem to upset anyone if some of the players were gone due to family vacations, and yet if you say you won’t be there because of Good Friday or Holy Saturday its another story.

Why do we Catholics stress over what should be obvious? Look at the muslims, would it even be a question for them if a game was scheduled on one of their holy days?

 

[Feanaro_s_Wife]

**Another thought…anyone here watch The Apprentice? If you do, you will know that twice already this season some candidates took days off to observe Jewish holidays. They did not participate in their team’s challenge at all. Donald Trump actually respected this and none of the other team members were really upset by it. Some thought it was a bit unfair…but that’s life. So if it can be done on national TV then you can too **

 

[LeahInancsi]

valenzuelaf:

Thanks for the Advice. My wife said the same thing. I am just struggling with it cause I am a Coach and I feel like I may not be respected by the team if I blow off the first game. None of them are religious and I’m afraid they wouldn’t understand.

You would be a good example of a person who is committed to God. They need one. :bowdown2: