Each year, around this time, people tend to talk about the Super Bowl. Who’s going to win. Who has the better quarterback. Who’s hosting the party. And of course, who we’re cheering for. Usually that’s not too hard, because most years there is a team with a great story or who no one thought would be there. People tend to cheer for the underdog. The long shot. The cinderella story. But this year, it’s a little different. Both teams are strong. Both are successful with 14 wins. Both have been there before. No real underdog…which, at least for me, makes it harder to care who wins. And that got me thinking: why do we usually root for the underdog in the first place?
In the ancient world, people didn’t generally think that way. In Jesus’ time, and long before him, strength and success were everything. The powerful were admired. The wealthy were respected. The winners were celebrated. The poor were often invisible. The lowly were expected to stay in their place. And that’s why the readings today are so striking…because every one of them pushes back against that way of thinking.
In the first reading, the prophet Zephaniah speaks to a people who feel small, defeated, and discouraged. And he says: “Seek the Lord, you humble of the earth… a people humble and lowly.” Not the powerful. Not the elite. God’s hope will rise from those who have learned to depend on Him. Then in the second reading, St. Paul reminds the Corinthians (and us) to take an honest look around. “Consider your own calling,” he says. Not many of you were wise. Not many were powerful. Not many were of noble birth. In other words: God didn’t build the Church with all-stars. He built it with ordinary people. People who knew their need for God. Because, St Paul says, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, so that no one might boast except in the Lord.
And then we come to the Gospel. Jesus begins his public ministry and his very first sermon with blessings instead of commandments. “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” “Blessed are the meek.” “Blessed are those who mourn.” “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” Jesus looks out at a crowd filled with people who feel small and insignificant and he tells them they matter. Not later. Not if they succeed. Not if they climb higher. But even now.
That’s important, because the Beatitudes are not instructions. Jesus isn’t saying, “Go out and try to be poor or sad.” He’s saying that when life places us there…when we are humbled, struggling, grieving, uncertain…God is not far away. In fact, He is closer than ever. The world keeps its own list of champions: the successful, the impressive, the people who seem to have it all together. But Scripture today makes it very clear: God keeps a different list.
And that raises a question we probably don’t ask ourselves very often. Which list are we trying to get onto? Where would we rather be found? In the world’s circle of champions… or on the Lord’s list of the blessed? Because the two lists rarely look the same. One is built on achievement and domination. The other on trust and service. One on strength. The other on dependence. One on achieving 1st place. The other on letting God lead.
Most of us spend our lives trying not to look weak. We don’t like admitting we need help. We don’t like being vulnerable. We don’t like feeling small. And yet, Scripture keeps telling us that those very places…the ones we try to avoid… are often where God does His best work. Not because weakness is good in itself, but because it makes room for grace. So as we prepare to watch a game full of champions next week, the Gospel invites us to ask a deeper question: what kind of life are we really striving for? Are we trying to be impressive… or faithful? Are we chasing recognition… or trust? Because in God’s kingdom, the scoreboard is different. And the ones Jesus calls “blessed” are often the very people the world would never think to cheer for. “Blessed are they,” he says. When he looks at us and our life, will he find us on his list?
