[00:00:00 –> 00:00:01] Hey, what’s going on?
[00:00:01 –> 00:00:03] This is Father PT here, I just wanna pause
[00:00:03 –> 00:00:07] and thank you for making the Poco A Poco Podcast
[00:00:07 –> 00:00:10] a possibility and possible.
[00:00:10 –> 00:00:12] Every episode we share, every person reached,
[00:00:12 –> 00:00:14] it’s because of you.
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[00:00:15 –> 00:00:18] as a monthly supporter or increase your gift,
[00:00:18 –> 00:00:20] we’d be so grateful.
[00:00:20 –> 00:00:22] Your support helps us lead more souls
[00:00:22 –> 00:00:24] to encounter Christ little by little.
[00:00:24 –> 00:00:29] And so you can give at spiritjuice.org/pocoapoco.
[00:00:29 –> 00:00:31] Thank you for being a part of this mission.
[00:00:31 –> 00:00:32] God bless y’all.
[00:00:34 –> 00:00:36] You’re listening to the Poco A Poco Podcast,
[00:00:36 –> 00:00:39] sponsored by Spirit Juice Studios.
[00:00:39 –> 00:00:41] (singer singing in foreign language)
[00:00:41 –> 00:00:44] ♪ And you that’s who we are ♪
[00:00:44 –> 00:00:46] ♪ We make our way ♪
[00:00:46 –> 00:00:47] Hey, this is Father Mark-Mary.
[00:00:48 –> 00:00:49] What’s going on?
[00:00:49 –> 00:00:51] This is Father PT.
[00:00:51 –> 00:00:53] Hey everybody. – You Are Father Angelus.
[00:00:53 –> 00:00:55] And I’m Father Innocent, okay.
[00:00:56 –> 00:00:58] Strong start. – And this is
[00:00:58 –> 00:00:59] the Poco A Poco Podcast.
[00:01:00 –> 00:01:02] What was up with the sinister laugh Father PT?
[00:01:02 –> 00:01:04] Just ’cause you feel lik cutting line?
[00:01:04 –> 00:01:04] I just jumped in.
[00:01:04 –> 00:01:06] I know Father Innocent is typically two,
[00:01:07 –> 00:01:09] just to shake stuff up.
[00:01:10 –> 00:01:13] Well, I think it’s appropriate in sofar
[00:01:13 –> 00:01:16] as we gotta start with getting an update from you.
[00:01:18 –> 00:01:19] Thank you, I appreciate that.
[00:01:19 –> 00:01:22] Knicks in five. – Knicks in five, baby.
[00:01:22 –> 00:01:24] Come on.
[00:01:24 –> 00:01:26] I thought of you often during that time.
[00:01:28 –> 00:01:31] Anyway, I know I could do a whole podcast episode,
[00:01:31 –> 00:01:34] but no, this is not what we do on this,
[00:01:34 –> 00:01:36] but I am still.
[00:01:36 –> 00:01:39] So it’s what, today’s Wednesday
[00:01:39 –> 00:01:41] and it’s like three days, four days removed.
[00:01:41 –> 00:01:43] It happened on Saturday. – How you feeling?
[00:01:43 –> 00:01:44] I’m still riding it.
[00:01:44 –> 00:01:49] And I’m going to be riding this until probably next June.
[00:01:50 –> 00:01:54] But then, anyway, I’m not gonna say anything, say we repeat.
[00:01:54 –> 00:01:55] But anyway.
[00:01:55 –> 00:01:58] Yeah, it’s just, anyway, so it’s hard
[00:01:58 –> 00:02:02] to put into words where you hope for something to happen.
[00:02:02 –> 00:02:05] Your whole life. – Your whole life.
[00:02:05 –> 00:02:08] And not only does it not happen,
[00:02:08 –> 00:02:10] but like you’re severely disappointed
[00:02:10 –> 00:02:13] where you’re on the precipice or it’s like right there.
[00:02:13 –> 00:02:14] You could feel it, you’re there.
[00:02:14 –> 00:02:17] And then bomp, and then like, there’s years specifically
[00:02:17 –> 00:02:20] with the Knicks of ineptitude and horrible decisions.
[00:02:21 –> 00:02:24] And so this whole run didn’t feel like it was real.
[00:02:25 –> 00:02:27] And it was just beautiful the way
[00:02:27 –> 00:02:29] like the city came together.
[00:02:29 –> 00:02:31] It was just really cool moments of like driving through
[00:02:31 –> 00:02:33] and just seeing everybody like
[00:02:33 –> 00:02:35] what Knicks jerseys are on game night.
[00:02:35 –> 00:02:36] People had like TVs on the sidewalks
[00:02:36 –> 00:02:39] and people would gather around TVs watching it,
[00:02:39 –> 00:02:40] which is pretty cool.
[00:02:41 –> 00:02:45] And so yeah, I cannot put into words how I feel.
[00:02:46 –> 00:02:49] I’m not gonna go and say like, this is top 10.
[00:02:49 –> 00:02:50] Well, this probably is top 10 moments
[00:02:50 –> 00:02:53] of my life watching the Knicks win a championship.
[00:02:53 –> 00:02:56] But just to put in perspective, the priesthood is better.
[00:02:56 –> 00:02:57] You know, like my religious vows
[00:02:57 –> 00:02:59] and definitely all those things.
[00:02:59 –> 00:03:00] Thanks for saying that, thanks for saying that.
[00:03:00 –> 00:03:02] I just wanna make it because it will sound like
[00:03:02 –> 00:03:03] this is more important than those things,
[00:03:03 –> 00:03:05] but it’s actually not.
[00:03:05 –> 00:03:08] I’m just very, very excited about it right now.
[00:03:08 –> 00:03:10] As you should be, as you should be.
[00:03:11 –> 00:03:13] The Poco A Poco Podcast, winning the
[00:03:15 –> 00:03:17] best podcast, first place expression of faith,
[00:03:17 –> 00:03:19] that also is above this, right?
[00:03:21 –> 00:03:23] I’m gonna give you 100% unfiltered answer, no.
[00:03:25 –> 00:03:27] That’s why they spelled your name wrong on the plaque.
[00:03:27 –> 00:03:29] That was a couple years ago or what?
[00:03:30 –> 00:03:31] Yeah, a couple years ago.
[00:03:33 –> 00:03:34] When was the last time they won it?
[00:03:34 –> 00:03:37] So 1973 was the last time we won it.
[00:03:38 –> 00:03:39] I mean like, once again, I could give you a lot
[00:03:39 –> 00:03:41] of details about these things, but I won’t bore
[00:03:41 –> 00:03:43] our listeners ’cause anyway,
[00:03:43 –> 00:03:45] but like there are a couple cool things.
[00:03:45 –> 00:03:49] So 1999 was the last time we were in the Finals, 1999,
[00:03:49 –> 00:03:51] we lost to the Spurs.
[00:03:51 –> 00:03:53] It’s a little poetic justice here.
[00:03:53 –> 00:03:55] Oh wow, look at that.
[00:03:55 –> 00:03:58] 1999 also, Rick Brunson,
[00:03:58 –> 00:04:02] who is Jalen Brunson’s dad was playing in the Finals.
[00:04:02 –> 00:04:03] And so like Jalen Brunson was able
[00:04:03 –> 00:04:05] to avenge somewhat his dad’s loss.
[00:04:05 –> 00:04:06] And so that’s kind of cool too.
[00:04:06 –> 00:04:11] But last thing is there’s like an NBA in season tournament
[00:04:11 –> 00:04:14] and the Knicks beat the Spurs to win the Cup there.
[00:04:14 –> 00:04:15] And so it’s just kind of cool
[00:04:15 –> 00:04:18] that we beat them again to win the NBA Championship.
[00:04:18 –> 00:04:20] And even when we won that tournament in the midseason,
[00:04:20 –> 00:04:23] like teams typically hang a banner.
[00:04:23 –> 00:04:24] We didn’t hang a banner because we said
[00:04:24 –> 00:04:26] it’s not a championship.
[00:04:26 –> 00:04:27] And so.
[00:04:28 –> 00:04:28] Say that again.
[00:04:28 –> 00:04:29] When didn’t you raise a banner?
[00:04:29 –> 00:04:31] So in the Midseason tournament,
[00:04:31 –> 00:04:33] like the teams typically raise a banner.
[00:04:33 –> 00:04:35] Hey, we’re mid-season tournament champions.
[00:04:35 –> 00:04:36] But we were like, it’s, we’re not champions.
[00:04:36 –> 00:04:39] And so until we win a championship, we’ll raise a banner.
[00:04:39 –> 00:04:43] So yeah, there’s all these cool stories
[00:04:43 –> 00:04:44] and I don’t know if y’all seen anything,
[00:04:44 –> 00:04:46] but they’re kind of lovable the guys.
[00:04:47 –> 00:04:49] I just think so ’cause like, anyway,
[00:04:49 –> 00:04:51] there’s like one thing, like I said a lot about this stuff,
[00:04:51 –> 00:04:55] but they work hard.
[00:04:55 –> 00:04:57] And the way we won it was amazing where
[00:04:59 –> 00:05:01] every game in the Finals we were down
[00:05:01 –> 00:05:03] by double digits that we won.
[00:05:03 –> 00:05:05] And of course the people maybe know about this,
[00:05:05 –> 00:05:08] the historic 29 point comeback.
[00:05:09 –> 00:05:12] I was, anyway, I preached about that
[00:05:12 –> 00:05:15] because I was every gamut of emotion.
[00:05:15 –> 00:05:18] I mean like, anyway, I felt everything like angry,
[00:05:18 –> 00:05:22] frustration, hatred, joy, euphoria,
[00:05:22 –> 00:05:25] like all in like a hour-and-a-half period.
[00:05:26 –> 00:05:28] Like in my body, not just like in my head.
[00:05:29 –> 00:05:31] I remember checking the score
[00:05:31 –> 00:05:33] that night and then going to bed.
[00:05:33 –> 00:05:34] I was like, well there’s that.
[00:05:34 –> 00:05:36] And then I just heard cheering about a couple hours later
[00:05:36 –> 00:05:38] and I was like, oh, they must have come back.
[00:05:38 –> 00:05:41] And then I went back to sleep.
[00:05:41 –> 00:05:43] Just cheering from the street.
[00:05:43 –> 00:05:45] Yeah, cheering from the street.
[00:05:45 –> 00:05:47] And then the same for the championship night
[00:05:47 –> 00:05:49] is like, I heard all these fireworks.
[00:05:49 –> 00:05:50] I was like, oh, they must have come back
[00:05:50 –> 00:05:52] a fourth time or a fifth time.
[00:05:54 –> 00:05:55] It’s been a movement here,
[00:05:55 –> 00:05:59] but I’ll admit this, I don’t feel bad about this.
[00:05:59 –> 00:06:02] I cried, I cried when they won the championship,
[00:06:02 –> 00:06:05] some tears came down my eyes when they came back from 29.
[00:06:06 –> 00:06:09] And yeah, this means a lot to me.
[00:06:10 –> 00:06:11] That’s awesome. – And can I just say that
[00:06:11 –> 00:06:12] it means a lot to me
[00:06:12 –> 00:06:13] because it means a lot to you.
[00:06:13 –> 00:06:16] So I love just, just kind of like texting you be like,
[00:06:16 –> 00:06:19] yo dude, like just kind of walking from a distance
[00:06:19 –> 00:06:21] just ’cause I know how much you love this.
[00:06:21 –> 00:06:22] So that just made me happy.
[00:06:22 –> 00:06:23] Yeah.
[00:06:23 –> 00:06:24] And it’s not like,
[00:06:24 –> 00:06:28] and I appreciate, I appreciate the love and I love it too.
[00:06:28 –> 00:06:31] I love the fact that people love this because they love me,
[00:06:31 –> 00:06:33] but it feels kind of good also
[00:06:33 –> 00:06:35] to be like a fan, you know what I mean?
[00:06:35 –> 00:06:36] Like, I’m not just like, oh it’s kind of cool the Knicks
[00:06:36 –> 00:06:39] are a New York City team, but like, anyway, just being a fan
[00:06:39 –> 00:06:41] and having suffered through it.
[00:06:41 –> 00:06:44] ‘Cause this is my first experience
[00:06:44 –> 00:06:47] of this meaning like a Mets fan, a big Mets fan,
[00:06:47 –> 00:06:49] and like I’ve never seen this for the Mets as you guys,
[00:06:49 –> 00:06:51] both the Kansas City boys know.
[00:06:53 –> 00:06:56] And it is like something that’s where like,
[00:06:56 –> 00:06:59] it just pays off kind of type of thing where,
[00:06:59 –> 00:07:00] you suffer through something and like,
[00:07:00 –> 00:07:02] this is why you suffer through it for this feeling,
[00:07:02 –> 00:07:04] for this reaction, for this moment.
[00:07:05 –> 00:07:07] So anyway, like I said I could talk about this for a while.
[00:07:07 –> 00:07:08] Nice one.
[00:07:10 –> 00:07:11] And if you guys can sort of,
[00:07:12 –> 00:07:15] we might pivot a little bit with this episode,
[00:07:15 –> 00:07:17] so just bear with me here.
[00:07:19 –> 00:07:22] Because I’ll say too, like Father,
[00:07:22 –> 00:07:27] well a couple things is I was down at
[00:07:27 –> 00:07:31] Ave Maria during, when they were down by like,
[00:07:31 –> 00:07:32] you know, 20 something points.
[00:07:32 –> 00:07:34] And I remember like looking at somebody
[00:07:34 –> 00:07:37] who was kind of like tracking it and saw the score
[00:07:37 –> 00:07:38] and I was kinda like Father Angelus,
[00:07:38 –> 00:07:40] completely just like wrote it off like,
[00:07:40 –> 00:07:41] okay, this one’s done.
[00:07:42 –> 00:07:43] And then the next day when I saw
[00:07:43 –> 00:07:47] that they came back like I was pretty shocked.
[00:07:50 –> 00:07:51] But isn’t there something too,
[00:07:52 –> 00:07:53] this is actually what happened, right?
[00:07:53 –> 00:07:56] So Jalen Brunson is the star of the team.
[00:07:56 –> 00:07:59] Like literally took a hundred million dollars less.
[00:07:59 –> 00:08:03] $113 million less. – Took 113.
[00:08:03 –> 00:08:04] And it’s funny, when you’re dealing with such big numbers
[00:08:04 –> 00:08:06] that’s like, you know, you just sort of like,
[00:08:06 –> 00:08:09] well you round down 113 million.
[00:08:09 –> 00:08:12] So he took $113 million less,
[00:08:12 –> 00:08:14] $13 million being more than most people
[00:08:16 –> 00:08:18] would make in multiple lifetimes.
[00:08:20 –> 00:08:23] But like, what did that enable?
[00:08:23 –> 00:08:26] So he just did that so they can
[00:08:26 –> 00:08:27] give that money to other players.
[00:08:27 –> 00:08:31] Yeah, so anyway, I’m not gonna get into the mechanics
[00:08:31 –> 00:08:34] of it, but yeah, now they had $113 million more
[00:08:34 –> 00:08:38] to give to other players basically because,
[00:08:38 –> 00:08:41] and like, not just like bench players,
[00:08:41 –> 00:08:43] but like quality players because you can
[00:08:43 –> 00:08:46] give bigger contracts to people who are better.
[00:08:46 –> 00:08:47] So yeah.
[00:08:47 –> 00:08:50] And another thing that’s unique about this team is
[00:08:50 –> 00:08:52] that him, Mikal Bridges
[00:08:52 –> 00:08:54] and Josh Hart played together in college
[00:08:54 –> 00:08:56] and won a championship in college.
[00:08:56 –> 00:08:59] And so like there’s a camaraderie and friendship there.
[00:08:59 –> 00:09:01] But yeah, Jalen Brunson, I can’t say enough about him
[00:09:01 –> 00:09:03] as far as like his leadership.
[00:09:03 –> 00:09:04] And the cool thing about the Knicks is
[00:09:04 –> 00:09:07] that they would always, they, like no matter
[00:09:07 –> 00:09:09] who was interviewed,
[00:09:09 –> 00:09:10] they always had like this mantra as like, hey,
[00:09:10 –> 00:09:11] it’s the next game.
[00:09:11 –> 00:09:14] Even though they won like historically 13 games in a row
[00:09:14 –> 00:09:16] and they never like rested on the fact of like,
[00:09:16 –> 00:09:18] we just we’re doing this thing and it’s awesome,
[00:09:18 –> 00:09:21] but it’s like, hey, just put our heads down and keep working
[00:09:21 –> 00:09:24] because we’re trying to accomplish something.
[00:09:24 –> 00:09:27] But Jalen Brunson himself would never give up
[00:09:27 –> 00:09:30] and like the whole team too would never give up as far as
[00:09:30 –> 00:09:32] just working hard and trying to come back
[00:09:32 –> 00:09:34] and they always have a belief that they’re never out
[00:09:34 –> 00:09:37] of a game just because of like the work they put into it.
[00:09:37 –> 00:09:38] Fair enough.
[00:09:38 –> 00:09:40] But Jalen Brunson himself is just a man of high character.
[00:09:40 –> 00:09:41] And even too, like watching some
[00:09:41 –> 00:09:43] of the post like championship things,
[00:09:43 –> 00:09:45] people have been asking him like, how does it feel
[00:09:45 –> 00:09:47] to be the MVP, how does it feel to score 45
[00:09:48 –> 00:09:50] in a clinching game on the road?
[00:09:50 –> 00:09:52] And he’s always like, it’s the team that I’m grateful for.
[00:09:52 –> 00:09:54] Like it’s never about like, yeah like him
[00:09:54 –> 00:09:55] taking these flowers and being like, yeah, you know,
[00:09:55 –> 00:09:56] I did it.
[00:09:56 –> 00:09:57] I put the hard work in.
[00:09:57 –> 00:09:58] But it’s like, no, the guy’s put me in this position
[00:09:58 –> 00:09:59] to succeed and I’m just trying to
[00:09:59 –> 00:10:01] fulfill whatever role they need me to fulfill.
[00:10:01 –> 00:10:03] And so it’s just like, anyway, he’s just a good like,
[00:10:03 –> 00:10:06] team modeled person where he’s, it’s always the team
[00:10:06 –> 00:10:09] before himself and he shows up with a contract.
[00:10:09 –> 00:10:11] He shows up by his play and his efforts and his words.
[00:10:11 –> 00:10:12] And so.
[00:10:13 –> 00:10:15] It’s fun seeing you get fired up PT, that’s great.
[00:10:15 –> 00:10:17] I know.
[00:10:17 –> 00:10:20] Talking more about this than spiritual things, right?
[00:10:20 –> 00:10:21] I think there’s a connection.
[00:10:21 –> 00:10:22] I think it’s all kind of this
[00:10:24 –> 00:10:26] how you see it is just, yeah, I think it’s also good.
[00:10:27 –> 00:10:29] I could do a lot of like spiritual aspects
[00:10:29 –> 00:10:31] to this, but anyway, go ahead.
[00:10:31 –> 00:10:33] We’ll try and do one here,
[00:10:33 –> 00:10:37] but I know the answer to this,
[00:10:37 –> 00:10:42] but you know, the opponent, the San Antonio Spurs,
[00:10:43 –> 00:10:48] you know, sort of had one of the more outspoken Catholic
[00:10:50 –> 00:10:53] faithful Catholic athletes on their team.
[00:10:53 –> 00:10:55] Mr. Luke Kornet.
[00:10:55 –> 00:10:56] What did he say?
[00:10:56 –> 00:10:58] Honestly, I don’t know what he said.
[00:10:58 –> 00:10:59] Like ever?
[00:10:59 –> 00:11:01] Oh, you talking about like, he’s like outwardly Catholic,
[00:11:01 –> 00:11:03] not outspoken as far as like things he said.
[00:11:03 –> 00:11:06] Well, no, I mean, he kind of,
[00:11:08 –> 00:11:10] he represents his faith very publicly
[00:11:10 –> 00:11:12] and like, you know, he’s like when Father Gregory Pine
[00:11:12 –> 00:11:13] was on here, he referenced it like,
[00:11:13 –> 00:11:16] ’cause they’ve had him on their podcast.
[00:11:16 –> 00:11:17] Like he’s out there kind of like,
[00:11:18 –> 00:11:20] not like doing the circuit,
[00:11:20 –> 00:11:20] but he is out there very sort of
[00:11:20 –> 00:11:22] publicly professing this faith.
[00:11:22 –> 00:11:24] And he was the one who wrote the letter protesting
[00:11:24 –> 00:11:27] what I think it was the Hawks were gonna be doing
[00:11:27 –> 00:11:30] about sort of celebrating, you know, a local
[00:11:30 –> 00:11:32] like inappropriate place.
[00:11:34 –> 00:11:35] But because of that, right?
[00:11:35 –> 00:11:37] Like one of the big news stories that people were running
[00:11:37 –> 00:11:39] with was like, these nuns,
[00:11:39 –> 00:11:41] I think they’re Salesian nuns.
[00:11:41 –> 00:11:42] Come to the game.
[00:11:42 –> 00:11:43] Praying with the players.
[00:11:44 –> 00:11:46] Sorry. – Don’t pack up the nuns.
[00:11:46 –> 00:11:48] My competitive spirits going up now.
[00:11:48 –> 00:11:49] Go ahead.
[00:11:49 –> 00:11:51] I just, you know.
[00:11:51 –> 00:11:54] And is there any sadness, any remorse about that?
[00:11:54 –> 00:11:59] I’ll say this, I was Knicks authentically,
[00:12:00 –> 00:12:02] primarily driven by Father PT.
[00:12:02 –> 00:12:04] Thank you. – And loyalty there.
[00:12:04 –> 00:12:06] So that’s where my loyalty lies.
[00:12:07 –> 00:12:08] Yeah.
[00:12:10 –> 00:12:12] So I separate, it’s like separating church
[00:12:12 –> 00:12:16] and state type of thing for me where like, it’s cool,
[00:12:16 –> 00:12:18] hey y’all wanna show the Salesian sisters
[00:12:18 –> 00:12:19] praying over Luke Kornet
[00:12:19 –> 00:12:23] before the game to gain whatever favor.
[00:12:23 –> 00:12:24] And it’s kind of a cool thing.
[00:12:24 –> 00:12:26] I mean just, I’m trying to put
[00:12:26 –> 00:12:28] my Knicks fandom in my heart, like in the space aside.
[00:12:28 –> 00:12:30] But it is a cool thing to have like sisters front row,
[00:12:30 –> 00:12:34] like wearing Spurs jersey and just having that,
[00:12:35 –> 00:12:37] but at the same time, yeah,
[00:12:37 –> 00:12:39] between the lines, it doesn’t matter to me.
[00:12:39 –> 00:12:41] You know what I mean?
[00:12:41 –> 00:12:42] Like, we got a championship to win.
[00:12:42 –> 00:12:43] A cool thing is that, I mean,
[00:12:43 –> 00:12:46] very few people probably saw this,
[00:12:46 –> 00:12:49] but it was game five, game four
[00:12:49 –> 00:12:50] that we came back.
[00:12:52 –> 00:12:55] Post-game, I was watching, I forgot who the guys are,
[00:12:55 –> 00:12:56] but like the guys used to be on TNT,
[00:12:56 –> 00:12:58] Shaq, Kenny, all those guys.
[00:12:58 –> 00:13:00] But like post-game, you’re watching them
[00:13:00 –> 00:13:01] and in the background
[00:13:01 –> 00:13:03] because people were just in the Garden for like hours
[00:13:03 –> 00:13:05] after just soaking in the feeling
[00:13:05 –> 00:13:07] of having come back from 29.
[00:13:07 –> 00:13:10] I can see in the stands two Dominican priests
[00:13:10 –> 00:13:12] ’cause I was watching, I was like, yo, those are Dominicans,
[00:13:12 –> 00:13:14] like it’s like over their shoulders
[00:13:14 –> 00:13:15] and like they were just like walking around in the stands.
[00:13:15 –> 00:13:17] And so I noticed Salesian sisters were praying
[00:13:19 –> 00:13:20] for Luke Kornet and praying over him.
[00:13:20 –> 00:13:21] But I think we might’ve had some stuff
[00:13:21 –> 00:13:23] behind the scene with our Dominican brothers.
[00:13:23 –> 00:13:24] They might’ve been, I don’t know,
[00:13:24 –> 00:13:27] I don’t know if they were praying with the guys.
[00:13:27 –> 00:13:28] This was the night of the championship?
[00:13:28 –> 00:13:31] Yeah, they were in the arena, the Dominican Brothers.
[00:13:33 –> 00:13:35] The night of the comeback.
[00:13:35 –> 00:13:37] Not the night that they won.
[00:13:37 –> 00:13:39] The night of the comeback, yeah.
[00:13:39 –> 00:13:41] But I wonder if I’ve actually seen something about that.
[00:13:41 –> 00:13:44] They might’ve also been there as guests of Luke Kornet.
[00:13:45 –> 00:13:46] Oh. – Come on.
[00:13:46 –> 00:13:50] Interesting. – Yeah, I think I saw
[00:13:50 –> 00:13:54] a picture ’cause it might be on the God splitting guys,
[00:13:55 –> 00:13:58] Father Patrick Briscoe and Joseph Anthony.
[00:14:00 –> 00:14:02] Who also are connected again through Luke.
[00:14:03 –> 00:14:06] It goes back to Luke, it goes back to him.
[00:14:06 –> 00:14:09] But what know what, he fought hard, he did his thing.
[00:14:09 –> 00:14:12] He was sick game five, you know, hats off to him.
[00:14:12 –> 00:14:15] They showed up, they played hard.
[00:14:15 –> 00:14:17] But sorry.
[00:14:17 –> 00:14:20] A poor, humble Father PT couldn’t go
[00:14:20 –> 00:14:21] to any NBA championship games,
[00:14:21 –> 00:14:25] was just watching back in his, you know,
[00:14:25 –> 00:14:27] wherever you were watching it saying your prayers,
[00:14:27 –> 00:14:29] you know, the Lord saw you.
[00:14:29 –> 00:14:32] Yeah, I, there was a time in one
[00:14:32 –> 00:14:35] of the games I had something going on, like I had meetings
[00:14:35 –> 00:14:40] with people and anyway, it was a sacrifice.
[00:14:40 –> 00:14:41] I finished the meetings.
[00:14:41 –> 00:14:43] It was difficult, it was very difficult
[00:14:43 –> 00:14:45] to be present at the meetings.
[00:14:45 –> 00:14:46] But I finished ’em at like at nine something
[00:14:46 –> 00:14:48] on one of the game nights and I was very anxious
[00:14:48 –> 00:14:50] to start watching the game.
[00:14:51 –> 00:14:51] But yeah.
[00:14:51 –> 00:14:53] Can I just mention, it’s fun being in New York City
[00:14:53 –> 00:14:55] with our neighbors because you never,
[00:14:55 –> 00:14:58] you never recognize how deep it runs until like,
[00:14:58 –> 00:14:59] that’s all they talk about.
[00:14:59 –> 00:15:01] That’s all they experience.
[00:15:01 –> 00:15:04] Like coming in and outta our cafe in those couple weeks
[00:15:04 –> 00:15:06] or like through the entire playoffs.
[00:15:06 –> 00:15:07] It’s just crazy.
[00:15:07 –> 00:15:09] And it’s just like, oh man, you forget
[00:15:09 –> 00:15:11] how much all these things mean,
[00:15:11 –> 00:15:12] it’s like a part of life right?
[00:15:12 –> 00:15:13] To New York City fans.
[00:15:13 –> 00:15:15] You’re like, wow, okay.
[00:15:15 –> 00:15:16] You know, they’re excited to tell us about it,
[00:15:16 –> 00:15:17] excited to talk about it.
[00:15:18 –> 00:15:22] Like doing an hour play by play of the game,
[00:15:22 –> 00:15:24] like the day after all these things, men and women,
[00:15:24 –> 00:15:26] young and old, everybody getting in there.
[00:15:26 –> 00:15:28] Everybody, you know, so it was kind of fun
[00:15:28 –> 00:15:30] to be around during that.
[00:15:30 –> 00:15:33] New York is a basketball town and like it’s the only team.
[00:15:33 –> 00:15:34] Granted the Nets are around,
[00:15:34 –> 00:15:36] but like, it’s the only team that actually has
[00:15:36 –> 00:15:38] like all of New York is the Knicks.
[00:15:39 –> 00:15:41] And I felt bad, I thought about the Nets.
[00:15:41 –> 00:15:44] I was like, oh, look at them, poor Brooklyn over there.
[00:15:44 –> 00:15:46] No.
[00:15:46 –> 00:15:49] And then also too, I think also, yeah, with like baseball,
[00:15:49 –> 00:15:52] football, like basketball’s just very accessible.
[00:15:52 –> 00:15:54] Like you just have to score more points
[00:15:54 –> 00:15:55] than the other team and get the ball in the basket.
[00:15:55 –> 00:15:56] Like that’s it, that’s all you’re really watching.
[00:15:56 –> 00:15:58] And so like anybody could watch it
[00:15:58 –> 00:15:59] and understand what’s going on.
[00:15:59 –> 00:16:01] With baseball and football sometimes, like nuances,
[00:16:01 –> 00:16:02] like what’s going on?
[00:16:02 –> 00:16:03] Why is this stopping?
[00:16:05 –> 00:16:07] And also too, I think it’s like, it’s fun
[00:16:07 –> 00:16:10] ’cause it’s a summer like championship sports time
[00:16:10 –> 00:16:11] and so you could be outside
[00:16:11 –> 00:16:12] and watch outside and stuff like that.
[00:16:12 –> 00:16:16] But yeah, anyway, it’s a life.
[00:16:16 –> 00:16:18] I would go running with my Knicks jersey
[00:16:20 –> 00:16:21] and people would be like, yeah, let’s go Knicks.
[00:16:21 –> 00:16:22] And then like all these different comments
[00:16:22 –> 00:16:23] and stuff like that.
[00:16:23 –> 00:16:25] Oh, it’s fun. – That’s awesome.
[00:16:25 –> 00:16:27] And for the non-New Yorkers
[00:16:27 –> 00:16:30] or who haven’t been out here particularly, like say
[00:16:30 –> 00:16:32] maybe the further west you go,
[00:16:32 –> 00:16:34] and I’ll just say this like I was a sports guy growing up
[00:16:35 –> 00:16:37] and like if you go
[00:16:37 –> 00:16:39] through my favorite teams is like my baseball team
[00:16:39 –> 00:16:41] growing up was the Atlanta Braves,
[00:16:41 –> 00:16:44] my basketball team was the Orlando Magic.
[00:16:46 –> 00:16:48] You know, well my football team was a California team,
[00:16:48 –> 00:16:50] but it was, you know, it was like the 49ers.
[00:16:50 –> 00:16:54] Like, there’s not as like deep
[00:16:54 –> 00:16:56] of like local loyalties necessarily.
[00:16:56 –> 00:17:00] I think they’re there, but it is different.
[00:17:00 –> 00:17:04] And yeah,
[00:17:04 –> 00:17:08] Father PT being a New Yorker, hey, he cried.
[00:17:08 –> 00:17:10] I did. – Twice.
[00:17:10 –> 00:17:12] No, I still get emotional, like looking at some
[00:17:12 –> 00:17:14] of the things, oh my gosh, sorry guys.
[00:17:14 –> 00:17:17] But anyway, I still get very emotional looking at
[00:17:17 –> 00:17:19] some of the like footage and stuff like that.
[00:17:20 –> 00:17:21] Is that Chalamet calling you?
[00:17:21 –> 00:17:23] Yeah, he is, he’s calling, him and Ben Stiller.
[00:17:23 –> 00:17:25] They call me, we’re supposed to have a meetup
[00:17:27 –> 00:17:29] and maybe Tracy Morgan also.
[00:17:29 –> 00:17:30] We might just hang out.
[00:17:30 –> 00:17:31] That’s a whole nother conversation.
[00:17:31 –> 00:17:32] But the stars that love the Knicks
[00:17:32 –> 00:17:34] are just really funny to me.
[00:17:34 –> 00:17:35] But it’s definitely not Taylor Swift calling me.
[00:17:35 –> 00:17:37] I’ll tell you that much.
[00:17:38 –> 00:17:39] Yes.
[00:17:42 –> 00:17:44] It’s done now, it’s done now.
[00:17:46 –> 00:17:51] And you know, this is episode 304 according to my watch.
[00:17:51 –> 00:17:55] Wow. – So also a happy belated
[00:17:55 –> 00:17:56] celebration of 300 episodes.
[00:17:56 –> 00:17:57] Wow, come on.
[00:17:58 –> 00:18:00] That was the Father Gregory Pine episode.
[00:18:00 –> 00:18:01] Can we just take a moment and say
[00:18:01 –> 00:18:02] that I’m still on the episode?
[00:18:02 –> 00:18:03] This is really great.
[00:18:04 –> 00:18:05] This is great. – Congratulations.
[00:18:05 –> 00:18:08] You know, we thank you for putting in the work yesterday
[00:18:08 –> 00:18:13] to try and find a way to be here beyond.
[00:18:16 –> 00:18:20] Thank you for sacrificing, you know, $113 million as well
[00:18:21 –> 00:18:23] to help make this possible.
[00:18:26 –> 00:18:29] But anyway, happy related 300th episode.
[00:18:31 –> 00:18:35] But I think in our over six years now
[00:18:35 –> 00:18:36] and over 300 episodes,
[00:18:36 –> 00:18:40] I think this is the most time we’ve given to sports
[00:18:40 –> 00:18:42] at this point.
[00:18:42 –> 00:18:43] But also, hey, you know what?
[00:18:43 –> 00:18:45] New Yorkers are loyalty fans
[00:18:46 –> 00:18:50] and Poco A Poco Podcasts are loyalty to friars.
[00:18:52 –> 00:18:55] And one of our members had his biggest victory.
[00:18:55 –> 00:18:58] Is this the biggest in your lifetime?
[00:18:58 –> 00:18:59] For a sports team? – Yes.
[00:18:59 –> 00:19:01] I mean, without it, so the Giants, I’m a Giants fan,
[00:19:01 –> 00:19:04] but yes, this is it.
[00:19:04 –> 00:19:06] The only thing that surpasses this is a Mets for me,
[00:19:06 –> 00:19:08] like a Mets championship.
[00:19:08 –> 00:19:10] And so it’s not looking too bright right now.
[00:19:10 –> 00:19:12] Has that happened in your lifetime?
[00:19:12 –> 00:19:14] Mets winning the championship?
[00:19:14 –> 00:19:16] Technically yes ’cause I was born in April in 86
[00:19:16 –> 00:19:18] and they won in October of 86.
[00:19:18 –> 00:19:20] But like me actually seeing one, no.
[00:19:20 –> 00:19:21] Okay. – It was close
[00:19:21 –> 00:19:23] when I went to seminary, sorry about that.
[00:19:23 –> 00:19:24] It still hurts.
[00:19:25 –> 00:19:30] 2015 we lost against the Royals in the World Series.
[00:19:30 –> 00:19:31] Losing to these guys is the worst.
[00:19:31 –> 00:19:33] Do you remember when I preached?
[00:19:33 –> 00:19:35] Oh yeah, I do, I do. – Okay.
[00:19:35 –> 00:19:36] I just wanna make sure you remember.
[00:19:36 –> 00:19:38] When you say these guys,
[00:19:38 –> 00:19:39] you’re not talking about the Royals,
[00:19:39 –> 00:19:41] you’re talking about me and Father Innocent, right?
[00:19:42 –> 00:19:43] Yeah, with your fandom
[00:19:43 –> 00:19:47] of the Royals and the Chiefs, which have hurt me.
[00:19:49 –> 00:19:50] And then we try to be positive.
[00:19:50 –> 00:19:51] Try to be positive about it.
[00:19:51 –> 00:19:54] And we’re trying to like say it’s okay, bro.
[00:19:54 –> 00:19:55] Like it’s all good.
[00:19:56 –> 00:19:58] Yeah, you should play your little shtick.
[00:19:59 –> 00:20:00] That’s not what’s really happening.
[00:20:00 –> 00:20:01] You love it.
[00:20:01 –> 00:20:03] You love Father Angelus and I.
[00:20:03 –> 00:20:05] Pretend like it’s happening.
[00:20:06 –> 00:20:07] I have a deep loyalty to you guys,
[00:20:07 –> 00:20:12] but I don’t wanna watch a serious sports event
[00:20:13 –> 00:20:15] with you guys present rooting against me.
[00:20:18 –> 00:20:19] So here’s how I’m gonna try
[00:20:19 –> 00:20:21] and make this a spiritual thing.
[00:20:22 –> 00:20:24] And this isn’t fresh off the cusp.
[00:20:24 –> 00:20:29] This is a little bit of a belated fruit of what was going on
[00:20:29 –> 00:20:31] with me during the Easter season
[00:20:32 –> 00:20:36] ’cause I kind of got on this kick of kind of noticing,
[00:20:38 –> 00:20:41] like some of these interior desires
[00:20:41 –> 00:20:45] or interior like movements of the heart,
[00:20:45 –> 00:20:49] which have like, which like we try
[00:20:49 –> 00:20:51] and pursue in some way here,
[00:20:51 –> 00:20:54] but like an imperfect way, sometimes a wholesome way,
[00:20:54 –> 00:20:56] sometimes a disordered way,
[00:20:57 –> 00:21:01] but that are, I believe in some ways
[00:21:03 –> 00:21:06] like what we could call in terms of like little seeds
[00:21:06 –> 00:21:10] of the gospel, which point to like some sort,
[00:21:10 –> 00:21:14] like an ultimate fulfillment in Jesus and his resurrection.
[00:21:14 –> 00:21:17] And so, you know, like one of them, I’ve spent a good amount
[00:21:17 –> 00:21:20] of time on some of like the anti-aging stuff.
[00:21:21 –> 00:21:24] And by the way, we’re all in the aging community,
[00:21:25 –> 00:21:29] in some of my travel’s, been getting a number of
[00:21:29 –> 00:21:32] comments on the graying beard, the, you know,
[00:21:32 –> 00:21:35] ongoing grayness coming into the beard.
[00:21:35 –> 00:21:37] But like there’s this thing,
[00:21:37 –> 00:21:37] like there’s a huge market, right?
[00:21:37 –> 00:21:39] And a huge amount of money being spent on
[00:21:39 –> 00:21:40] like anti-aging stuff.
[00:21:40 –> 00:21:44] And like part of me has gotten to this point
[00:21:44 –> 00:21:45] where it’s like, yeah, you know what,
[00:21:45 –> 00:21:48] there’s actually, we’re actually made
[00:21:49 –> 00:21:51] to kind of like, we believe in the resurrection of the body
[00:21:51 –> 00:21:54] and part of what this means is that we are actually made
[00:21:54 –> 00:21:59] for this like perfection of ourselves like body and soul
[00:22:00 –> 00:22:04] for all eternity that won’t know decay, right?
[00:22:05 –> 00:22:09] The trick of course is that this is a fruit of holiness
[00:22:09 –> 00:22:12] and this is something that like God does in us
[00:22:13 –> 00:22:16] and it will be the fruit of us having to go through death.
[00:22:16 –> 00:22:17] And it’s not something that we’re gonna be able
[00:22:17 –> 00:22:20] to achieve on our own through all the sort of stuff
[00:22:20 –> 00:22:22] that people are giving their time to.
[00:22:22 –> 00:22:24] But also there’s a part of like, hey, it’s actually okay
[00:22:24 –> 00:22:27] that you kind of get older, if you trust
[00:22:27 –> 00:22:29] and believe in like the resurrection.
[00:22:29 –> 00:22:32] And I don’t know that you’ll care how much of like
[00:22:32 –> 00:22:33] how many wrinkles are on your skin in heaven.
[00:22:33 –> 00:22:36] But there is something I think God given there.
[00:22:37 –> 00:22:41] And the one I’m gonna use here is just like
[00:22:41 –> 00:22:46] I do think I have a loyalty to sports
[00:22:46 –> 00:22:48] and I do think I have a loyalty to competitive sports.
[00:22:48 –> 00:22:51] And I do think that I look back on my life
[00:22:51 –> 00:22:55] with actually a lot of gratitude for how sports formed me
[00:22:55 –> 00:22:57] as a man and a person.
[00:22:57 –> 00:23:02] And I do think that seeing, you know, some athletes coming
[00:23:02 –> 00:23:04] to the friars, I do think some of
[00:23:04 –> 00:23:05] what they learned about like grit
[00:23:05 –> 00:23:08] and doing hard things, particularly some things
[00:23:08 –> 00:23:10] that they learned about being on a team and sacrifice
[00:23:10 –> 00:23:12] and kind of not just thinking about
[00:23:12 –> 00:23:14] themselves and being coachable.
[00:23:14 –> 00:23:16] I do think actually like a lot of the sports culture
[00:23:17 –> 00:23:19] has a lot to offer that can be healthy
[00:23:19 –> 00:23:23] and positive for the athlete and for the fan,
[00:23:23 –> 00:23:24] while also certainly acknowledging
[00:23:24 –> 00:23:28] the ever increasing disorderness of this
[00:23:28 –> 00:23:31] and hyper competitiveness at a young age
[00:23:31 –> 00:23:31] and all this sort of stuff.
[00:23:31 –> 00:23:35] Okay, but is it possible that
[00:23:36 –> 00:23:39] here we see Father PT not known necessarily
[00:23:39 –> 00:23:43] for being hyper-emotional all the time.
[00:23:44 –> 00:23:45] You know, he can get there,
[00:23:46 –> 00:23:48] but that’s not like, I don’t think if someone is
[00:23:48 –> 00:23:50] to name 10 adjectives, I don’t know that one
[00:23:50 –> 00:23:52] of the top 10 would be emotional.
[00:23:53 –> 00:23:54] Is that fair?
[00:23:55 –> 00:23:58] Yeah, I’ll take that, I can, but yeah, it’s not like.
[00:23:58 –> 00:24:00] Yeah, I think you have it in your bag,
[00:24:00 –> 00:24:01] but I don’t think it’s, you know, like,
[00:24:01 –> 00:24:05] but apologize for the listener experience.
[00:24:05 –> 00:24:07] We just lost Father Angelus.
[00:24:09 –> 00:24:13] And so I had to problem solve that for a second.
[00:24:13 –> 00:24:14] And we still don’t have him,
[00:24:14 –> 00:24:18] but you know, he’s on the injured reserve until later.
[00:24:22 –> 00:24:25] But the idea that I was kind of getting at is just
[00:24:25 –> 00:24:29] can we be open to this, understanding this isn’t
[00:24:29 –> 00:24:34] the fulfillment or the perfection, fandom is a phenomena.
[00:24:35 –> 00:24:37] It’s like worldwide.
[00:24:37 –> 00:24:39] We have the World Cup happening right now.
[00:24:39 –> 00:24:41] And I do think it’s curious
[00:24:41 –> 00:24:42] and some people can be critical about it,
[00:24:42 –> 00:24:46] of how intensely invested
[00:24:47 –> 00:24:52] somebody can be like in a player or in a team
[00:24:53 –> 00:24:54] and them having victory.
[00:24:55 –> 00:24:58] You know, again, one of our own here
[00:24:58 –> 00:25:00] shedding tears at a victory of the Knicks
[00:25:03 –> 00:25:05] with a bunch of guys, you know,
[00:25:05 –> 00:25:08] he’s never met in person, right?
[00:25:08 –> 00:25:10] And so again, like I’m open to the idea
[00:25:10 –> 00:25:11] of there being a critical lens,
[00:25:11 –> 00:25:14] but if you, like, again, if you look at people traveling
[00:25:14 –> 00:25:17] for their country, if you look at people,
[00:25:18 –> 00:25:20] the College World Series is happening right now.
[00:25:20 –> 00:25:21] If you look at how people are
[00:25:21 –> 00:25:24] so invested in whatever the college is.
[00:25:26 –> 00:25:29] Like can this actually be a seed of the gospel
[00:25:29 –> 00:25:30] in so far as that there is,
[00:25:30 –> 00:25:35] there is something very human about
[00:25:35 –> 00:25:39] being able to celebrate another’s victory as your own.
[00:25:42 –> 00:25:44] And that there’s an ease to this
[00:25:44 –> 00:25:47] and there can actually be like an intensity to this.
[00:25:47 –> 00:25:52] And there’s a communal nature to this, which again,
[00:25:52 –> 00:25:54] it’s imperfect here,
[00:25:55 –> 00:25:58] but can this be some sort of seed of the gospel
[00:25:58 –> 00:26:02] which points to the reality of like,
[00:26:02 –> 00:26:04] our victory is a victory in another,
[00:26:06 –> 00:26:08] like our victory is a victory in Christ.
[00:26:09 –> 00:26:12] And this is something that we will be able to enjoy
[00:26:12 –> 00:26:16] and to celebrate and to actually like own
[00:26:16 –> 00:26:19] and in the most sort of like profound
[00:26:19 –> 00:26:20] of ways for all eternity.
[00:26:22 –> 00:26:24] And that somehow even then we see
[00:26:24 –> 00:26:27] how Christ has been victorious in the saints,
[00:26:27 –> 00:26:29] which is something that we have like the cult of the saints
[00:26:29 –> 00:26:31] that we’ve celebrated for centuries.
[00:26:31 –> 00:26:33] Like where there’s a celebration of
[00:26:33 –> 00:26:34] what God has done in their life
[00:26:34 –> 00:26:35] and their own victory
[00:26:35 –> 00:26:38] that somehow is our own victory like as well.
[00:26:40 –> 00:26:42] And I think I like this
[00:26:42 –> 00:26:45] and I think again, like I think it brings us
[00:26:45 –> 00:26:48] to an appropriate like relationship with fandom,
[00:26:50 –> 00:26:53] but also like has to ultimately lead us to
[00:26:55 –> 00:26:56] like, I guess like a freedom
[00:26:56 –> 00:26:58] that like the victory isn’t our own,
[00:26:58 –> 00:27:01] but like also the sort of the reality
[00:27:01 –> 00:27:03] that our ultimate victory is in another and in Christ.
[00:27:03 –> 00:27:05] And this is something that we will,
[00:27:06 –> 00:27:09] that is foreshadowed in small ways here and now,
[00:27:09 –> 00:27:12] but will have its like perfection in all eternity.
[00:27:14 –> 00:27:15] And I’ve said this before this episode
[00:27:15 –> 00:27:18] and I’m not just trying to like respond to this episode
[00:27:18 –> 00:27:20] by like over spiritualizing it,
[00:27:20 –> 00:27:23] but I think there’s something to this.
[00:27:23 –> 00:27:24] Is this something you guys are open to?
[00:27:24 –> 00:27:28] Is this something that you have any criticism of?
[00:27:28 –> 00:27:32] Does it feel like trying to, I don’t know,
[00:27:36 –> 00:27:39] have an overly positive view of something
[00:27:39 –> 00:27:41] that maybe doesn’t deserve that positive view?
[00:27:41 –> 00:27:42] What do you guys think?
[00:27:42 –> 00:27:44] No, I think,
[00:27:44 –> 00:27:46] I think you’re on,
[00:27:46 –> 00:27:49] and once again this is coming from the sports guy,
[00:27:49 –> 00:27:52] but like, for me,
[00:27:52 –> 00:27:56] this is ’cause what sports and like fandom does,
[00:27:56 –> 00:27:58] it’s community.
[00:27:58 –> 00:27:59] So there’s that.
[00:27:59 –> 00:28:00] And like we have,
[00:28:02 –> 00:28:03] and I’ll say this too as you, as you said,
[00:28:03 –> 00:28:05] like I know all analogies limp
[00:28:06 –> 00:28:08] and we’re still talking about like the perfection
[00:28:08 –> 00:28:09] of our faith and like the deep connectedness that we have
[00:28:09 –> 00:28:12] with God and comparing it to something that’s finite
[00:28:14 –> 00:28:15] and trivial to be honest.
[00:28:15 –> 00:28:17] Like sports are like at the end of the day,
[00:28:17 –> 00:28:19] because I said this to the brothers
[00:28:19 –> 00:28:20] and they’re like, are you sure about that?
[00:28:20 –> 00:28:21] I was like, well if the Knicks win
[00:28:21 –> 00:28:23] or lose, like it’s whatever.
[00:28:23 –> 00:28:25] Like honestly in the grand scheme of things,
[00:28:25 –> 00:28:29] like my day-today life, I will.
[00:28:29 –> 00:28:30] And yes, that’s the guy who’s like saying,
[00:28:30 –> 00:28:33] I’m never gonna forget this, but if they lost, okay,
[00:28:33 –> 00:28:34] like it’d take me some time to recover,
[00:28:34 –> 00:28:36] but like I’m still gonna show up for prayers.
[00:28:36 –> 00:28:37] I’m still gonna show up for mass, you know, like,
[00:28:37 –> 00:28:39] I mean my life continues on same thing if they won.
[00:28:39 –> 00:28:44] And so, but I think there is a beautiful way in which it
[00:28:44 –> 00:28:47] speaks to like our heavenly community that we’re in.
[00:28:48 –> 00:28:50] So even to like, as a fan,
[00:28:50 –> 00:28:51] anytime I can see somebody wearing
[00:28:51 –> 00:28:54] some Knicks paraphernalia, like instantly,
[00:28:54 –> 00:28:57] there’s a connectedness of like a shared experience, right?
[00:28:57 –> 00:29:01] And so like I know their struggles, I know their joys,
[00:29:01 –> 00:29:02] they know my struggles, they know my joys
[00:29:02 –> 00:29:05] because we’ve had this collective experience of going
[00:29:05 –> 00:29:07] through the sufferings and the joys of being a fan.
[00:29:07 –> 00:29:10] I think the same thing is true with like the saints
[00:29:10 –> 00:29:12] or those in our faith, like our brothers and sisters.
[00:29:12 –> 00:29:14] Like we can have a connectedness of like, yeah,
[00:29:14 –> 00:29:15] like you’re Catholic or like you’re following the Lord.
[00:29:15 –> 00:29:17] And so we can share hearts
[00:29:17 –> 00:29:20] and share struggles in that same way.
[00:29:20 –> 00:29:22] But somebody else, they did text me and remind me of this.
[00:29:22 –> 00:29:24] And it’s true because I think people have preached about
[00:29:24 –> 00:29:29] this also, but I feel like this is the closest thing
[00:29:29 –> 00:29:31] actually, I can’t say the closest thing, but like this is
[00:29:31 –> 00:29:35] like the joy of the resurrection in the sense of like,
[00:29:35 –> 00:29:38] Christ’s victory is my victory, you know, Christ has won sin
[00:29:39 –> 00:29:41] and like Christ has won life for me
[00:29:42 –> 00:29:44] and I can now participate in this
[00:29:44 –> 00:29:46] and I’ve gone through a struggle
[00:29:46 –> 00:29:48] and somebody else has done it for me.
[00:29:49 –> 00:29:51] And the same way too is this is the same like
[00:29:51 –> 00:29:54] with the championship in a sense of like, okay, cool,
[00:29:54 –> 00:29:56] like I actually have nothing to do with this.
[00:29:56 –> 00:29:57] Like I wasn’t on the court,
[00:29:57 –> 00:29:59] I didn’t help the next comeback from 29 points,
[00:29:59 –> 00:30:01] but this emotion
[00:30:01 –> 00:30:04] and this strong sense that I feel like I participated
[00:30:04 –> 00:30:08] in that is real and they got the championship,
[00:30:08 –> 00:30:09] they’re the ones who are gonna get paid.
[00:30:09 –> 00:30:12] They’re the ones, but I somehow participate in that,
[00:30:13 –> 00:30:15] where with Christ, obviously it’s so much deeper
[00:30:15 –> 00:30:17] and once again analogies limpier,
[00:30:17 –> 00:30:19] but like I actually do get to reap the benefits
[00:30:19 –> 00:30:22] of Christ suffering and dying for me
[00:30:22 –> 00:30:27] so I can enter it to heaven and and I can rejoice in that
[00:30:28 –> 00:30:30] in a similar way
[00:30:30 –> 00:30:32] where I get emotional or I’m able to like
[00:30:32 –> 00:30:33] to rejoice in the fact that he won the victory,
[00:30:33 –> 00:30:35] he went through the struggle.
[00:30:35 –> 00:30:36] And so there’s that.
[00:30:36 –> 00:30:37] But I do think there are a lot of things
[00:30:37 –> 00:30:39] about sports fandom
[00:30:40 –> 00:30:42] that can actually like apply to our faith
[00:30:44 –> 00:30:46] that I think sometimes we could just take a step back
[00:30:46 –> 00:30:49] and look at, but also treat it in a healthy way, you know?
[00:30:50 –> 00:30:52] ‘Cause at the end of the day, sports are sports
[00:30:52 –> 00:30:55] but like our faith is more important.
[00:30:56 –> 00:30:57] And so, like even with Luke Kornet, like, okay,
[00:30:57 –> 00:31:00] that’s cool, but I mean I bet he’s mad and upset,
[00:31:00 –> 00:31:03] but like he’s still trust in the Lord that he’s gonna,
[00:31:03 –> 00:31:05] you know, grant him whatever his desires are
[00:31:05 –> 00:31:06] and be faithful to him and stuff.
[00:31:06 –> 00:31:10] And so yeah, so that’s at least some comments there.
[00:31:10 –> 00:31:11] Father Innocent, I don’t know if you have anything.
[00:31:11 –> 00:31:16] Yeah, I mean, I think just to add like,
[00:31:16 –> 00:31:19] I mean I love this, I love the formation
[00:31:19 –> 00:31:23] of the heart that sports offers,
[00:31:23 –> 00:31:26] I think in every capacity, whether it’s actually doing it
[00:31:26 –> 00:31:29] or it’s actually being a part of something,
[00:31:30 –> 00:31:34] I think a lot of things like God has written
[00:31:34 –> 00:31:36] so much into our hearts.
[00:31:36 –> 00:31:40] And so I love the fact that whether it like, yeah,
[00:31:40 –> 00:31:44] just like what sports bring out, it’s so formative
[00:31:44 –> 00:31:45] to actually be in it.
[00:31:45 –> 00:31:49] And then the fandom part of it is we’re like made
[00:31:49 –> 00:31:51] to belong to something
[00:31:51 –> 00:31:54] that’s bigger than ourselves, we’re made to,
[00:31:55 –> 00:31:58] I don’t know, even Father PT, like holding together
[00:31:58 –> 00:32:01] that we’re made to kind of suffer together.
[00:32:01 –> 00:32:03] Like we’re made to like work hard.
[00:32:04 –> 00:32:06] And it’s like the, again,
[00:32:06 –> 00:32:08] it can be overly spiritualizing,
[00:32:09 –> 00:32:10] but it’s like the dying and the rising,
[00:32:10 –> 00:32:12] like it’s all written into us, right?
[00:32:12 –> 00:32:15] So to know that I have to like suffer something
[00:32:15 –> 00:32:16] and then when I suffer something
[00:32:16 –> 00:32:19] and then there’s a victory, it’s just greater, right?
[00:32:19 –> 00:32:22] Like that’s actually written into our humanity, right?
[00:32:22 –> 00:32:27] So I love the fact that, that like we’re made
[00:32:27 –> 00:32:30] to fight for something good and give our lives
[00:32:31 –> 00:32:33] but then also to be a part of something
[00:32:33 –> 00:32:34] that does that as well.
[00:32:35 –> 00:32:39] So I just think that the formation aspect of sports
[00:32:39 –> 00:32:41] and fandom and I hold that together
[00:32:41 –> 00:32:44] ’cause I don’t, while it’s different we weren’t playing
[00:32:44 –> 00:32:47] for the Knicks, but I do think it’s like this,
[00:32:47 –> 00:32:49] we’re holding it all together.
[00:32:49 –> 00:32:51] I do think there’s just something super formative
[00:32:51 –> 00:32:54] and our humanities always an icon
[00:32:54 –> 00:32:59] and always can be pulled back to see the greater truths
[00:32:59 –> 00:33:04] or the desires or it just like winning
[00:33:04 –> 00:33:07] and losing, there’s something that teaches us about God,
[00:33:09 –> 00:33:11] kind of the underdog kind of thing.
[00:33:11 –> 00:33:13] That there’s something written into us
[00:33:13 –> 00:33:16] that it like teaches us about humanity.
[00:33:16 –> 00:33:18] So anyway, those are just like different facets of
[00:33:18 –> 00:33:21] what sports and working hard
[00:33:21 –> 00:33:23] and sacrifice and these things teach us.
[00:33:23 –> 00:33:26] And so I know there’s a lot there, but I’m a huge fan.
[00:33:26 –> 00:33:28] I definitely think God uses it all.
[00:33:28 –> 00:33:31] It’s written into our hearts to kind of see these things
[00:33:32 –> 00:33:34] and experiencing these things.
[00:33:35 –> 00:33:37] Yeah because even to Father Mark-Mary,
[00:33:37 –> 00:33:39] thank you Father Innocent, you were mentioning just like
[00:33:39 –> 00:33:41] how even playing sports and being on a team is formative
[00:33:41 –> 00:33:43] for like our hearts.
[00:33:43 –> 00:33:45] And St. Paul uses different images,
[00:33:45 –> 00:33:48] sports images like to run the race.
[00:33:48 –> 00:33:52] And so I think it’s just, it’s applicable to
[00:33:52 –> 00:33:56] where like being on a team, if you play a team sport
[00:33:56 –> 00:33:58] or like the effort you put in
[00:33:59 –> 00:34:02] is gonna show up in some way, shape or form.
[00:34:02 –> 00:34:04] But I think also too in our faith,
[00:34:04 –> 00:34:08] like the the effort we put in like with our relationship
[00:34:08 –> 00:34:10] with the Lord, like allowing him to be the one
[00:34:10 –> 00:34:14] to fulfill these things, I think also manifests in some way
[00:34:14 –> 00:34:17] and like team sports is just a way of like
[00:34:17 –> 00:34:19] with the comradery and then like the sacrificing
[00:34:19 –> 00:34:22] for the other and making sure I’m setting up my teammate
[00:34:22 –> 00:34:25] to succeed is beautiful in the sense of
[00:34:25 –> 00:34:27] just putting somebody else before yourself
[00:34:27 –> 00:34:29] and teaching you sacrifice
[00:34:29 –> 00:34:31] and teaching you that things aren’t always gonna feel good.
[00:34:31 –> 00:34:35] But I know that like this is for a greater good
[00:34:36 –> 00:34:39] can also help with like literal or like practical things.
[00:34:39 –> 00:34:40] So it’s like fasting
[00:34:42 –> 00:34:45] or just being sacrificial in your yes and different things
[00:34:45 –> 00:34:47] like that, and so there’s that aspect
[00:34:47 –> 00:34:50] of it too with like actually playing the sport
[00:34:51 –> 00:34:54] that also like bear fruit in the spiritual life.
[00:34:55 –> 00:34:59] Yeah and I’m like for I think a lot
[00:34:59 –> 00:35:03] of obvious reasons, I’m kind of quite conscious
[00:35:03 –> 00:35:06] as we’re doing this episode of not, again, not like,
[00:35:07 –> 00:35:08] not overdoing it,
[00:35:12 –> 00:35:16] a small part of me not trying to like overly glamorize
[00:35:16 –> 00:35:20] or canonize professional sports and sports culture.
[00:35:20 –> 00:35:21] If we want to have a deep dive
[00:35:21 –> 00:35:23] on all the negative things there,
[00:35:23 –> 00:35:25] like we could certainly do that.
[00:35:26 –> 00:35:28] But like if you recall like I had
[00:35:28 –> 00:35:31] that sort of, this was years ago now of the kind of
[00:35:31 –> 00:35:34] that lived experience of the prayer we say in the church
[00:35:34 –> 00:35:36] of look not in our sins, but on the faith of your church
[00:35:36 –> 00:35:39] and sort of the experience of
[00:35:39 –> 00:35:43] like being actually moved in a very positive way at like one
[00:35:43 –> 00:35:46] of my cousins like cheer competitions where
[00:35:46 –> 00:35:49] younger me would’ve been like hypercritical.
[00:35:51 –> 00:35:55] And I do think there’s something positive about developing
[00:35:55 –> 00:35:58] the ability of, okay, like here’s this thing
[00:35:58 –> 00:35:59] that people care about a lot
[00:35:59 –> 00:36:00] and it’s a very widespread thing.
[00:36:00 –> 00:36:03] Like let’s find the good there, let’s be able
[00:36:03 –> 00:36:08] to recognize it and also point it to its perfection
[00:36:10 –> 00:36:14] and encourage, you know, actually seeking the perfection
[00:36:14 –> 00:36:19] and not putting our hope in some of the limited passing
[00:36:19 –> 00:36:20] like things here on earth.
[00:36:24 –> 00:36:26] So anyway, that said,
[00:36:26 –> 00:36:27] and that’s probably, that’s the last time I’m gonna
[00:36:27 –> 00:36:31] sort of make some sort of disclaimer comment.
[00:36:31 –> 00:36:34] But you know what, well I think there’s something
[00:36:34 –> 00:36:38] to this, this kind of movement that we see in, again,
[00:36:38 –> 00:36:43] a heightened way with the insistence on
[00:36:44 –> 00:36:47] the communal nature of
[00:36:49 –> 00:36:50] like liturgy
[00:36:52 –> 00:36:54] and in particular like sacramental liturgies
[00:36:56 –> 00:36:59] with like one very like notable exception I guess.
[00:37:00 –> 00:37:03] Like there is a vision of the church behind,
[00:37:04 –> 00:37:05] really even behind baptism,
[00:37:05 –> 00:37:10] but behind the celebration of the Eucharist, which again,
[00:37:12 –> 00:37:14] which is sharing in the victory of another.
[00:37:14 –> 00:37:15] But like, ’cause we just kind of got
[00:37:15 –> 00:37:17] through ordination season
[00:37:17 –> 00:37:18] and just like we’re part of a wedding
[00:37:18 –> 00:37:21] and like the whole, like there’s a huge part of like,
[00:37:21 –> 00:37:24] so there’s the like an ordination in New York
[00:37:24 –> 00:37:28] and there’s these guys who get ordained who, you know, all
[00:37:28 –> 00:37:31] of these people kind of come to sort of share in this day
[00:37:31 –> 00:37:34] to celebrate in this day similarly,
[00:37:34 –> 00:37:35] like who’ve never met this guy
[00:37:35 –> 00:37:37] and may never meet these guys, right?
[00:37:37 –> 00:37:40] Or there’s going to a wedding and traveling
[00:37:40 –> 00:37:42] and spending a lot of money to go to a wedding
[00:37:42 –> 00:37:45] to celebrate like somebody else’s victory
[00:37:45 –> 00:37:47] and to celebrate what God has done in their lives.
[00:37:47 –> 00:37:52] And I do, I think this is part of, again,
[00:37:52 –> 00:37:56] a small sort of foretaste of heaven, that there is
[00:37:57 –> 00:38:01] this eternal wedding banquet, there’s this eternal
[00:38:01 –> 00:38:04] like celebration where
[00:38:06 –> 00:38:09] I find joy in the victory of Christ
[00:38:09 –> 00:38:12] and I celebrate his victory as my victory.
[00:38:13 –> 00:38:14] And it’s like magnified
[00:38:14 –> 00:38:19] and amplified in a way that’s almost like mo like
[00:38:19 –> 00:38:24] exponential by sharing in it with other people.
[00:38:24 –> 00:38:26] And that there is like, where there’s
[00:38:26 –> 00:38:30] the communal nature of the heavenly celebration.
[00:38:31 –> 00:38:33] And I think it’s just good, it’s good
[00:38:33 –> 00:38:37] to remember like we’re not, we’re called to victory.
[00:38:37 –> 00:38:39] We’re called to our victory in another
[00:38:39 –> 00:38:42] and that like we’re called to kind of share in
[00:38:42 –> 00:38:44] and find the fullness of this
[00:38:44 –> 00:38:46] and sharing it with other people.
[00:38:46 –> 00:38:49] And it’s not just my win, my victory myself.
[00:38:50 –> 00:38:52] And that’s why I think it’s important that,
[00:38:52 –> 00:38:57] and there actually is value to us here spending a lot
[00:38:57 –> 00:38:59] of time, you know, talking about it in the gospel,
[00:38:59 –> 00:39:01] but also like sharing in victory
[00:39:02 –> 00:39:04] of the Knicks on behalf of our brother here.
[00:39:06 –> 00:39:07] So I don’t know, like, I just think
[00:39:07 –> 00:39:09] there’s like you can see again,
[00:39:09 –> 00:39:11] wthe sports thing’s like a little seed,
[00:39:11 –> 00:39:14] but I think you can seed some either further developments
[00:39:14 –> 00:39:16] in the worldview of the church ultimately
[00:39:16 –> 00:39:18] perfected in eternity.
[00:39:19 –> 00:39:24] Yeah, I was recently preaching a retreat
[00:39:24 –> 00:39:27] and I used the Henri de Lubac line
[00:39:27 –> 00:39:29] of the church makes Eucharist
[00:39:29 –> 00:39:31] and the Eucharist makes the church, right?
[00:39:31 –> 00:39:32] And just talking about community
[00:39:34 –> 00:39:37] and in particular church makes the Eucharist.
[00:39:37 –> 00:39:39] It is a line that, anyway explaining that part of it
[00:39:39 –> 00:39:42] that the Eucharist does not simply appear on its own.
[00:39:42 –> 00:39:44] It requires a community, the church setting
[00:39:44 –> 00:39:47] through the ministry of the priest
[00:39:47 –> 00:39:49] and the faithful proclaim the word
[00:39:49 –> 00:39:50] and offered liturgical prayers
[00:39:50 –> 00:39:53] and thanksgiving to invoke the Holy Spirit.
[00:39:53 –> 00:39:55] And so it’s like one of those things where
[00:39:55 –> 00:39:57] we need community to say that
[00:39:57 –> 00:40:00] and the church celebrates like in community
[00:40:01 –> 00:40:04] and once again this is like it limps in comparison,
[00:40:04 –> 00:40:06] but you know, just like it’s good to celebrate
[00:40:06 –> 00:40:09] with people, especially these things
[00:40:09 –> 00:40:14] specifically talking about now the Eucharist together.
[00:40:14 –> 00:40:16] And it’s never done in isolation.
[00:40:16 –> 00:40:17] It’s never done in isolation.
[00:40:17 –> 00:40:21] So I think like when you’re part of a larger thing
[00:40:21 –> 00:40:24] and you are able to celebrate with others
[00:40:24 –> 00:40:26] something that is beyond you,
[00:40:27 –> 00:40:29] like it’s just helpful and good
[00:40:30 –> 00:40:31] and as you’re saying Father Innocent, like these things
[00:40:31 –> 00:40:33] are naturally written on our hearts.
[00:40:33 –> 00:40:36] It’s not like, like we’re made for a community,
[00:40:36 –> 00:40:38] we’re made for communion
[00:40:38 –> 00:40:41] and it is something where just the joy is shared
[00:40:41 –> 00:40:43] with somebody else is like double the joy, right?
[00:40:43 –> 00:40:45] And we’re able to rejoice in something else
[00:40:45 –> 00:40:49] with somebody else, it just draws out more joy in us
[00:40:49 –> 00:40:53] and we’re able just to have a better experience of it.
[00:40:54 –> 00:40:56] But yeah, so there’s that aspect too where the church
[00:40:56 –> 00:40:59] is necessarily communal
[00:40:59 –> 00:41:01] and we can rejoice in that space also.
[00:41:02 –> 00:41:03] Yeah, and the only thing I’d add is
[00:41:03 –> 00:41:06] that there’s no such thing as a private grace.
[00:41:06 –> 00:41:08] Like when God gives, it’s for me,
[00:41:08 –> 00:41:10] but it’s always for others, right?
[00:41:10 –> 00:41:12] We’re a body, right?
[00:41:12 –> 00:41:15] And I think recently we had the Feast of Saint Anthony
[00:41:15 –> 00:41:19] and I talked about how like his inspiration
[00:41:19 –> 00:41:22] to become a Franciscan was his encounter
[00:41:23 –> 00:41:26] with St. Bernard and his companions as he went,
[00:41:26 –> 00:41:27] as they went to
[00:41:29 –> 00:41:30] ultimately to become martyrs.
[00:41:30 –> 00:41:32] And so he saw them go walk through the town
[00:41:32 –> 00:41:34] and go to give their lives
[00:41:34 –> 00:41:38] and then he saw them come back in coffins, right?
[00:41:38 –> 00:41:40] And so like the St Bernard
[00:41:40 –> 00:41:44] and his companions, they were following God’s will.
[00:41:44 –> 00:41:45] But the ripple effect was,
[00:41:45 –> 00:41:47] you couldn’t even imagine, right?
[00:41:47 –> 00:41:49] They were being faithful, but their grace
[00:41:49 –> 00:41:50] to give their lives was not just for them,
[00:41:50 –> 00:41:51] but it’s for everybody.
[00:41:51 –> 00:41:55] And so then St. Anthony gets inspired to follow,
[00:41:55 –> 00:41:57] to become a Franciscan, right?
[00:41:57 –> 00:41:59] And so I just love that like, if we be faithful,
[00:41:59 –> 00:42:02] there’s no such thing as it’s just for me,
[00:42:02 –> 00:42:05] we’re a part of a body, we’re a part of a community.
[00:42:05 –> 00:42:10] And so therefore this team is just like
[00:42:12 –> 00:42:16] the overflow, the abundance, the ripple is so beautiful.
[00:42:16 –> 00:42:18] But I think we have to have eyes to see it.
[00:42:18 –> 00:42:20] And so that’s why it’s beautiful that we can talk about it
[00:42:20 –> 00:42:23] ’cause it is so much a part of our daily life, our humanity,
[00:42:23 –> 00:42:25] our relationships.
[00:42:25 –> 00:42:26] But it’s always overflowing.
[00:42:30 –> 00:42:31] All right.
[00:42:32 –> 00:42:33] I appreciate that.
[00:42:34 –> 00:42:36] Anything more to say? – Let’s go Knicks.
[00:42:38 –> 00:42:40] Thanks for not having Father Angelus.
[00:42:40 –> 00:42:41] He was trying, but.
[00:42:42 –> 00:42:44] Yeah.
[00:42:44 –> 00:42:47] You know, we’ll continue with Father Angelus next week
[00:42:47 –> 00:42:50] and then I think we’ll build on this in a different way.
[00:42:52 –> 00:42:53] So Father PT?
[00:42:54 –> 00:42:55] Yes.
[00:42:55 –> 00:42:57] Can you close us with a prayer here?
[00:42:57 –> 00:42:58] Of course.
[00:42:58 –> 00:43:00] Father, Son, Holy Spirit, amen.
[00:43:00 –> 00:43:02] Good and gracious Father, we give you thanks
[00:43:02 –> 00:43:04] for the way in which you have been with us
[00:43:04 –> 00:43:06] and will continue to be with us.
[00:43:06 –> 00:43:09] We give you thanks for the many ways in which we are able
[00:43:09 –> 00:43:13] to celebrate, but we most celebrate
[00:43:13 –> 00:43:15] you sending your Son to save us from sin and death
[00:43:15 –> 00:43:18] and sending forth the Holy Spirit to gather us together
[00:43:18 –> 00:43:20] to offer a sacrifice that is pleasing to you.
[00:43:20 –> 00:43:22] And so, Lord, we ask just for a breakthrough in our hearts
[00:43:22 –> 00:43:24] and our lives, just to always keep our minds
[00:43:24 –> 00:43:26] and hearts focused on you
[00:43:26 –> 00:43:30] so that we can ultimately celebrate with you in heaven.
[00:43:30 –> 00:43:33] We ask this through Christ our Lord, amen.
[00:43:33 –> 00:43:34] Amen. – Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
[00:43:34 –> 00:43:35] Amen.
[00:43:36 –> 00:43:37] Anything?
[00:43:39 –> 00:43:40] I don’t got anything.
[00:43:40 –> 00:43:43] Shout out Knicks. – Shout out.
[00:43:43 –> 00:43:45] Shout out Knicks. – Shout out
[00:43:45 –> 00:43:46] to the starting five of the Knicks.
[00:43:46 –> 00:43:48] Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart.
[00:43:48 –> 00:43:49] Anyway, if y’all wanna have us
[00:43:49 –> 00:43:53] on The Roommate’s Podcast, let me know.
[00:43:53 –> 00:43:55] But shout out to, I’m not gonna, yeah.
[00:43:55 –> 00:43:56] Anyway, shout out to the Knicks.
[00:43:58 –> 00:44:00] Also, hey, maybe the Dominicans
[00:44:00 –> 00:44:02] were supporting the Knicks so you know,
[00:44:03 –> 00:44:05] I’ll let them speak to their fandom.
[00:44:07 –> 00:44:08] And
[00:44:10 –> 00:44:11] congrats.
[00:44:12 –> 00:44:15] Thank you. – It’s awesome.
[00:44:15 –> 00:44:16] Thank you. – All right,
[00:44:16 –> 00:44:18] we’ll see you guys next week.
[00:44:18 –> 00:44:20] Peace y’all. – Probably Father Angelus
[00:44:20 –> 00:44:21] will be with us.
[00:44:21 –> 00:44:23] Bye. – Peace.
[00:44:23 –> 00:44:27] (singer singing in foreign language)