Underdogs Become Stars

In the movie Rudy, Rudy isn’t smart enough to get into Notre Dame. He’s too small to play football. Could he make a touchdown for the Fighting Irish in the final game of his senior year? There’s no way. Not a chance. In the story Hidden Figures, Katherine Johnson is a mathematical genius. She works at NASA as a “calculator.” Yet she is a black woman in the early 1960s. Could she do the mathematical calculations for John Glenn’s return from orbit? There’s no way. Not a chance. 

We love these underdog stories, don’t we? The one full of grit and determination, the one who was not supposed to be there—a light shines, someone cracks open a door. The hero(ine) pushes through and comes to victory. The elation! The joy! The success! 

Today’s readings give us other underdog stories. St. Paul didn’t walk with Jesus. He persecuted Christians. There’s no way. Not a chance. The magi—astrologers from the east, they were not of the  Chosen People. How could they ever see the Messiah? There’s no way. Not a chance.

Yet God opens a crack in the door. Light from heaven strikes Paul to the ground. The risen Lord draws him in. In turn, Paul opens the door for those other underdogs, the Gentiles. 

A star in the heavens directs the magi to the King of the Jews,  and by that light they are overjoyed to see that baby. The elation!  The thrill! The success! Unlikely heroes, we still sing their song, “We  Three Kings.” 

You and I, we are unlikely heroes, too. People of faith, in love with the Lord? No way. Not a chance. Yet a light has shone into our darkness, too—a glimmer, a taste of the Holy Spirit, and a touch of glory. Wow. Sing praise! 

Consider/Discuss 

• What is your favorite underdog story? With whom do you identify most?  Who is it that shines the light, opens the door for the hero(ine)? At the conclusion, what causes you to feel elation and joy at their success? 
• Sometimes we take our faith for granted. Yet glimpses of light have enlightened our darkness. God is faithful. The heavens have opened and we are allowed to enter. How has that door opened for us? 

Living and Praying with the Word 

Lord Jesus, you came into this world as an underdog, born in a  small backwater of a vast empire. But when the magi saw you, they  knew that you truly reigned over all. Thank you for opening the  door for us. We are not worthy of you, but you have let us in, too.  Show us the elation—the joy—the unexpected successes that you  want for us in our own lives.