Overview:

Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

A Reflection for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time

“Enter through the narrow gate;
for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction,
and those who enter through it are many.
How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.
And those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

Find today’s readings here. 

It’s really hard to go against the grain.

Even the most level-headed person can succumb to the pressure to think, feel or behave in a certain way. This universal experience can be immensely frustrating, which is why it is so refreshing to see someone calmly and confidently walk through the “narrow gate,” as Jesus shares today. It feels hopeful. And few people have inspired more hope recently than the captain of the New York Knicks: Jalen Brunson.

You might have heard that Brunson recently led the Knicks to their first NBA championship in 53 years. You also might have heard that he was named Finals MVP, accomplishing certain feats that placed him on a list with only one other player in history, some guy named Michael Jordan. And the only thing more impressive than Brunson’s play on the court? His demeanor and mentality off of it.

At every turn, Brunson does the right thing. In a sea of professional athletes motivated by money, clout and personal accolades, he practices humility in a way that we rarely see from the average human being, let alone one of the most talented athletes in the world. 

Every answer he gives is calm, measured and respectful. He takes accountability without displaying a shred of arrogance. He constantly praises his coaches and teammates and rarely, if ever, talks about himself. The first thing he did after the final buzzer sounded on June 13 was walk over to shake the hand of San Antonio Spurs’ head coach Mitch Johnson.

And the cherry on top: in the summer of 2024, when negotiating his contract with the Knicks, Brunson took a deal worth $113 million less than he was eligible to receive. His decision gave the team the financial flexibility to invest money in players other than himself.

For his entire career, Brunson has been doubted. Professional analysts and common fans alike have belittled him: too small, too slow, not athletic enough. You’d think his massive triumphs would prompt him to fire back at these critics, even in a small way, with some air of “look at me now!” 

But he’s never said a word. Talk about a narrow gate.

Through his actions, Brunson has found “the road that leads to life.” And that “life” could be described as some of the most collective joy that New York City has felt in a really long time. Brunson embodies so many qualities that I strive to emulate: humility, sacrifice, discipline and poise.

I know it might sound silly to look to an athlete as a spiritual role model, but what can I say? There’s just something special about those Villanova University grads. Brunson personifies servant leadership, as living proof that doing the right and the hard thing can result in success at the highest level. God in all things, indeed. Let’s go Knicks.

Jackson Goodman is the Strategic Programs Manager at America Media, creating mission-driven events in partnership with Jesuit schools and parishes. He is a graduate of Fordham Prep and Boston College.