At this time, I'm on a parish pilgrimage to Fatima, Portgal and Spain. While devoted to many spiritual things, the secular world has intruded by emails from at least a hundred parishioners expressing their thoughts on the National League pennant race involvng the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets.
With sadness, I observe that some of the emails have small traces of hostility, a condescending spirit, and even a sense of jubilation that the Cubs, "Amerca's Team", might not win the pennant and advance to the World Series. Many of the other emails express a mature Christian joy at the exciting possibilities for the Cubs.
I must say that the tempo of the last two days has seen a near avalanch of negative Cubs information. Some have even suggested that the Cubs have been beaten twice in the last two days by the Mets.
While wi-fi connections and English language newspapers are a little spotty, I have heard no one at Fatima or now at Santiago de Compostela mention that the Cubs were losing. Given the dramatic changes in time-zone, I can reassure the shakiest of fans that the National League pennant race does not begin until tomorrow night in Chicago.
How can I be so sure that the Cubs will win? At Fatima, I saw that Mary wore blue, the color of the Cubs. Here at the Basilica of St. James the Greater in Santiago de Compostela, the giant censor before his tomb was swinging ever so slowly towards Wrigley Field in Chicago. My case rests.
So, to the weak of heart, be strong, fear not. Like the angel Gabriel, I bring you tidings of great joy. The Cubs will go all the way.
I, for one, refuse to let reality intrude into my feelings about the Cubs.