Sermonette

(In a break from our usual format, we have asked the Rev. Paul Lloyd Waner, pastor of St. Honus of Carnegie Church in Coulter, to offer an inspirational message on behalf of a local charity case.)

My dear brothers and sisters, peace be with you.

Spring has finally arrived, and like it, each Lenten season brings with it the hope of renewal and new life. The Church calls upon each one of us to consider some sort of sacrifice that may bring us closer to the Kingdom of Heaven, and this explains, perhaps, why so many of us have remained faithful to His Pittsburgh Pirates.

But it seems to me that 13 seasons is a great deal of penance, even for those who most sincerely seek the blessings of His grace.

Because we know that our reward is not of this earth, we are joyous despite our place, year after year, at the bottom of His standings. As we read in Mark 10:31, "many that are first shall be last, and the last, first."

Yet it is also written in Murtaugh's First Letter to the Forbesfieldians that it is better to win more games than we lose. And though on the journey of life, we will always sin and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), it is also written that "there should be joy in the chase, zest in the pursuit" (Rickey 12:20). Thus we must strive ever to at least break .500.

And so we offer the following petition this morning.

Oh, Heavenly Father:

We ask that You watch over our Pittsburgh Pirates, among Your most humble servants in the majors for lo these many years. As You led Your people out of the desert, so we ask that the Pirates be led out of the cellar of the National League.

Make straight the flight of the ball, lest Thine pitchers load up the bases with walks. Guide Thine fielders' arms not into foolish throwing errors, and remove the scales from their eyes, lest they bobble easy pop flies.

As we seek greater Communion with You, so shall our bats seek greater Communion with the ball. Make clear the base paths, lest our runners be trapped between First and Second.

Oh Lord, we know that it says in Matthew 4:7 that we shall not put You to the test, so we ask not that Thou leadeth Thine Pirates to the World Series, though if that be Thy will, then Thy will be done. Rather, we beseech You only that they not stinketh out loud again this season.

Amen.

(Next time: The Rev. Anthony Esposito, pastor of Badger Bob Church of Christ in Munhall Gardens, offers a eulogy for the Pittsburgh Penguins.)