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Homily stories

22 Nov 2015 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

Baseball legend Yogi Berra, who died at the age of 90 after a long and storied career, was revered for his wisdom-filled malapropisms as much as his baseball prowess. Among his more memorable observations: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” Berra didn’t want to end up anywhere else but playing the game of baseball. He reportedly told his dad: “I can’t ever have a job because I love to play ball too much.” Although he did have a few odd jobs and a stint in the Navy—including being part of the largest amphibious invasion in history: “D-Day,” the June 6, 1944, assault on the beaches of Normandy—his focus remained on playing ball. That dedication paid off when at age 17 he signed with the Yankees. He became a mainstay on the Yankees lineup in the 1950s and ’60s, went on to coach and manage the Yankees, Mets, and Astros, was named into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and became one of the most beloved characters in baseball. Jesus, too, was a beloved man of focus who knew where he was going: “For this I was born,” he tells Pontius Pilate, “and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Christians are called to listen to the voice of Jesus so that they know where they are going; otherwise they’re sure to end up someplace else.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

focus yogi berra baseball direction

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Quote of the week

27 Sep 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

“The future ain’t what it used to be.” --One of many humorous quotes attributed to Yogi Berra, the Baseball Hall of Fame Yankee catcher who passed away Tuesday at the age of 90 The 50 greatest Yogi Berra quotes

yogi berra

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Homily story of the week

22 Nov 2015 - Preaching the News for Sunday

Baseball legend Yogi Berra, who died at the age of 90 after a long and storied career, was revered for his wisdom-filled malapropisms as much as his baseball prowess. Among his more memorable observations: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” Berra didn’t want to end up anywhere else but playing the game of baseball. He reportedly told his dad: “I can’t ever have a job because I love to play ball too much.” Although he did have a few odd jobs and a stint in the Navy—including being part of the largest amphibious invasion in history: “D-Day,” the June 6, 1944, assault on the beaches of Normandy—his focus remained on playing ball. That dedication paid off when at age 17 he signed with the Yankees. He became a mainstay on the Yankees lineup in the 1950s and ’60s, went on to coach and manage the Yankees, Mets, and Astros, was named into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and became one of the most beloved characters in baseball. Jesus, too, was a beloved man of focus who knew where he was going: “For this I was born,” he tells Pontius Pilate, “and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Christians are called to listen to the voice of Jesus so that they know where they are going; otherwise they’re sure to end up someplace else. Exploring the Word for Sunday, November 22, 2015

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

direction focus yogi berra baseball

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Homily stories

21 Aug 2011 - Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A

When Jesus asked his disciples who people were saying he was, they replied with a variety of answers: John the Baptist (from those who thought John had come back from the dead); Elijah (who would show up when the kingdom of God was at hand); and Jeremiah (Jesus was acting a lot like a prophet). Saint Peter, however, had the right answer: the Messiah, that is, the Messiah, not a false one: "the Son of the living God." Unlike Peter on that day, however, people can get things wrong when it comes to faith and religion. Take alleged Bible quotes. On the day after he was fired as head coach of the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka solemnly told the media, "Scripture tells you that all things shall pass," sending reporters scurrying to the Bible on a futile search for that phrase. Rabbi Rami Shapiro told CNN's John Blake that he once had to persuade a student in his Bible class at Middle Tennessee State University that the saying "this dog won't hunt" is not in the Book of Proverbs. Sometimes when it comes to scripture, as Yogi Berra (allegedly) put it: "I never said most of the things I said."

Authors Joel Schorn

Messiah mike ditka rami shapiro john blake yogi berra

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Homily stories

21 Nov 2021 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle B

Baseball legend Yogi Berra, who died at the age of 90 after a long and storied career, was revered for his wisdom-filled malapropisms as much as his baseball prowess. Among his more memorable observations: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” Berra didn’t want to end up anywhere else but playing the game of baseball. He reportedly told his dad: “I can’t ever have a job because I love to play ball too much.” Although he did have a few odd jobs and a stint in the Navy—including being part of the largest amphibious invasion in history: D-Day, the June 6, 1944, assault on the beaches of Normandy—his focus remained on playing ball. That dedication paid off when at age 17 he signed with the Yankees. He became a mainstay on the Yankees lineup in the 1950s and ’60s, went on to coach and manage the Yankees, Mets, and Astros, was named into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and became one of the most beloved characters in baseball. Jesus, too, was a beloved man of focus who knew where he was going: “For this I was born,” he tells Pontius Pilate, “and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Christians are called to listen to the voice of Jesus so that they know where they are going; otherwise, they’re sure to end up someplace else.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

yogi berra

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Homily stories

26 Nov 2023 - Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Cycle A

Baseball legend Yogi Berra, who died at the age of 90 after a long and storied career, was revered for his wisdom-filled malapropisms as much as his baseball prowess. Among his more memorable observations: “If you don’t know where you’re going, you might wind up someplace else.” Berra didn’t want to end up anywhere else but playing the game of baseball. He reportedly told his dad: “I can’t ever have a job because I love to play ball too much.” Although he did have a few odd jobs and a stint in the Navy—including being part of the largest amphibious invasion in history, D-Day—his focus remained on playing ball. That dedication paid off when at age 17 he signed with the Yankees. He became a mainstay on the Yankees lineup in the 1950s and ’60s, went on to coach and manage the Yankees, Mets, and Astros, was named into the Baseball Hall of Fame, and became one of the most beloved characters in baseball. Jesus, too, was a beloved man of focus who knew where he was going: “For this I was born,” he tells Pontius Pilate, “and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” Christians are called to listen to the voice of Jesus so that they know where they are going; otherwise they’re sure to end up someplace else.

Authors Patrice J. Tuohy

yogi berra baseball

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