What Can Super Bowl Teach Us About Faith in Five Ways?

Since 1966, the NFL has witnessed many franchises make history by clinching a Super Bowl berth. It is the biggest game of the year in America, when two teams battle it out for the Lombardi Trophy.

Recently, we witnessed two of the best teams go at it after their original matchup in 2023. Being surrounded by the hype in my hometown made me think of three previous Super Bowls when my hometown team would make it to the Holy Grail of football. Collectively, the Philadelphia Eagles have won two out of their five appearances. Last night’s game saw the Philadelphia Eagles raise the Lombardi Trophy for the second time in the Super Bowl era. It was the biggest moment every professional football player has ever dreamed of. They had to rely on God and each other to make it to this feat.

The biggest game of the year brings many lessons of faith that are bigger than fans and teams.

Failure is Okay

Well, in a sense, it can be. Failure teaches us to strengthen our faith when we make frequent the sacraments and establish a prayer routine.

Praise God in Every Circumstance

St. Paul reminds us to give thanks to God in all circumstances. Many college and professional players have displayed their faith, win or lose. They thank God for allowing them to reach this moment in their lives. Every time we acknowledge God, we perform an act of humility. He strengthens us when we believe in him.

Perseverance

The teams that make it to the Super Bowl year in and year out had a challenging journey. All it took was perseverance, which comes before hard work. Pope Francis reminds us, “Patience and perseverance. We do not have a ‘magic wand’ for everything, but we do have our trust in the Lord Who accompanies us and never abandons us.”

When we persevere, it shows that we are determined to reach our goal in life, and that is heaven.

For athletes, they rely on each other to make it their goal to win. When they come together and endure the triumphs and struggles of the game, they remind each other to never lose sight of their goal.

Christ is the Goal

Like every professional team, the Eagles aim to reach the Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup Final, and NBA championship every season.

Every Catholic needs to develop a similar attitude when it comes to obtaining the rewards of heaven. For Catholics, we want to make it to our own Super Bowl. Instead of MVP or hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, the Super Bowl of our faith journey is obtaining the rewards of heaven.

St. Martin of Tours pleads to God by saying, “Suffer me, my brethren, to look towards heaven, in order that I may begin to put my soul upon the journey it is about to take to my Lord.'”

Staying True to Our Identity

St. Francis De Sales reminds us, “Be who you are and be it well.” We too must stay true to what God made us to be. He calls us to not identify with the world but find our own identity in him who created us out of love.

As the 60th Super Bowl is roughly a year away, the goals are relevant to every athlete who doesn’t want to give into the culture. Rather, they place God in all that they do.