Sr. Beth: ‘Faithfulness is the thread that connects Jeremiah & Rudy’

Pictured above: Marianite Sister Beth Mouch oversees the breakfast service for poor and low-income guests of St. Jude Community Center, a mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in New Orleans. (Photo by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald)

The full text of the First Reading for Jan. 30 is printed below. Spoiler alert: Sister Beth’s reflection reveals plot lines from the 1993 movie “Rudy,” starring Sean Astin in the title role.

The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you but not prevail over you, for I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. – Jeremiah 1: 4-5, 17-19

By SISTER BETH MOUCH, M.S.C.
Guest columnist

One of my all-time favorite movies is entitled “Rudy.” It tells the story of Daniel ”Rudy” Ruettiger, the third of 14 children, who learned to love football from his father. His family gathered around the television to watch Notre Dame football each week of football season. This event marked a bright spot in Rudy’s childhood, and it also birthed his lifelong dream to play football at Notre Dame.

In his dreams, Rudy could do anything. In real life, Rudy had many struggles. He was only a 5-foot-6-inch, 165-pound tackle in high school. He was a very poor student academically and struggled with a yet-undiagnosed disease – dyslexia.

His low grades and small build put his dream to play football at Notre Dame out of reach. After graduation, he and his best friend, Pete, worked in a factory in Joliet, Indiana. Pete became Rudy’s “soulmate” and encourager. He gave Rudy the motivation to keep his dreams alive. But, then, another hurdle confronted Rudy: In June 1972, Pete was killed in an explosion at the plant where he and Rudy worked.

Rudy started to re-evaluate his life and enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served two tours at sea during the Vietnam War. When he returned home, Rudy was able to enroll in Holy Cross College using the benefits from his G.I. Bill to pay for his tuition.

Holy Cross College is across the street from the University of Notre Dame. Still holding on to his dream to play football at Notre Dame, he worked hard to improve his grades in order to be accepted into the university. After three disheartening rejections, Rudy was finally accepted and officially became a Notre Dame man!

But his trials were not over. It took tremendous effort for Rudy to even get accepted into the Notre Dame scout team, which helps the varsity practice. However, his efforts were noticed by the coaches, and in the last game of his senior year, Rudy was given a jersey and played two plays in Notre Dame’s battle with Georgia Tech. He failed to tackle the quarterback in the first play, but rammed him to the ground during the final play of the game.

The fans roared as Rudy’s teammates carried him off the field on their shoulders. This man, Rudy Ruettiger, who faced many obstacles in his life, including multiple rejections, was now a Notre Dame legend and has become a motivational speaker!

The Prophet Jeremiah, like Rudy, grew up in a religious family. Jeremiah, like Rudy, faced many obstacles and rejections when he began his prophetic career. But God had a plan for Jeremiah, and that plan was to take a message to his nation, urging the people to repent and to give up their worship of false gods and to return to the true God, with whom they had made a covenant. His message included words of warning and words of hope.

Jeremiah was afraid to be a messenger of God. He said he was too young, that he couldn’t speak. Rudy was told that he was too small, that he couldn’t read. Jeremiah felt inadequate; Rudy was told that he lacked too much. Yet Jeremiah heard the Lord say, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,” giving Jeremiah the encouragement to simply be faithful.

Before Pete was killed in the factory incident, he gave Rudy a Notre Dame jacket and said, “You were meant to wear this jacket,” giving Rudy the encouragement to be faithful to his dreams.

God touched Jeremiah, putting words in his mouth. From then on, Jeremiah never doubted his call. God used many people to touch Rudy and give him hope.

As believers, we can know that God shapes our lives when we choose to listen. Our Lord knew us intimately before we were born and continues to guide us after our birth. God uses others to help us on the way: parents, teachers, friends. God sends people into our lives who encourage us to be faithful.

Faithfulness is the thread that connects Jeremiah and Rudy. They both had many obstacles and reasons to give up – but they didn’t!  We are all asked to be faithful, to give our best, to stay the course and finish strong.

You are called by God to BE faithful and to SHOW others how to stay the course, even when times are tough.

Marianite Sister Beth Mouch is a self-described “registered Cajun” who grew up in Franklin, Louisiana. Sister Beth, who made her final profession of vows in 1983, ministers at St. Jude Community Center in New Orleans, a mission of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish that serves poor and low-income residents of New Orleans. St. Jude’s outreach also includes cooking meals for the city’s Low-Barrier Shelter, which offers 24-hour intake to those needing services; and New Orleans Womanspace, a shelter for women experiencing homelessness, mental illness and substance abuse. In her spare time, Sister Beth enjoys swimming, cooking and walking in the park.