RJM Kelly, a friend and classmate from years ago at St. Joseph’s College (now University) in Philadelphia sent me this. It is a morning prayer given at Fordham Prep, Monday morning, February 4, 2008, the day after the Giants win in the Super Bowl.

I’m biased, of course, but I think the Giants run in the playoffs and then the win in the Super Bowl was more than a victory, it was a mythic event that seemed to resonate with sports fans across the country. It was “Little Giants,” “Rudy,” “Miracle On Ice,” win-it-for-the-Gipper and all those miraculous stories we hold dear to our hearts.

I think this morning prayer, given by the Fordham Prep Director of the Service Program, Paul Homer, is testament to the universality of the Giants victory.

Morning prayer, February 4, 2008

“Today is the Jesuit Feast of the Martyrs of the Mission, but I think these holy men will forgive us if instead we reflect this morning on another great religious theme — miracles in the desert, in particular the one that took place last night in Arizona.

The sports section in recent years has rivaled police blotters for stories that seem to expose the dark side of human nature. Headlines are more likely to feature words like sadism, salaries and steroids than they are words like challenge, character and championship.

But last night’s victory by the Giants over the Patriots was filled with moving images and life lessons that reflect sports and humanity at their best.

The Giants game plan reminded us that we are at our best when we work for and with others. And it reminded us that each of us can make a contribution whether we’re a star adored by millions or a no-name loved only by our mothers.

The play of the defense reminded us that we can do great things when we act with enthusiasm and intensity.

The images of Jacobs and Bradshaw reminded us that sometimes we measure success in inches and, at other times, we’ve got to look to burst out of our current environs to seek new horizons.

Manning to Tyree reminded us never to give up even when we’re being dragged down, to always use our heads to keep our acts together, and that a Hail Mary is never out of place.

Watching Peyton root for Eli reminded us that, unlike the the Cain and Abel story, genuine glory seeks to be shared, not hoarded.

And, most importantly, this year’s Super Bowl is a reminder, going as far back as the Tower of Babel story that it is not for humans to seek perfection; rather, we are called to do the best with what we’ve been given and to ask God that it be enough.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of sports in our lives, for the fun and recreation they make possible, but especially for the values they can teach and they virtues they can instill.

Amen.”

That’s what we did.