"THOSE WHO ARE FIRST NOW WILL BE LAST, AND

THOSE WHO ARE LAST NOW WILL BE FIRST"

By Peter Vuono

   Super Bowl LVIII is hyped to being the most watched super bowl of all time not to mention the most bet on. It's no wonder as the Kansas City Chiefs team is comprised of a modern day Camelot. They have a handsome quarterback who will go down in sports history as one of the greats. He, in turn has a model wife who appears in Sports Illustrated.

  The Chiefs have an uber-talented tight end who happens to be dating the world's most famous pop star. So it is quite normal for the general public to project themselves into the lives of the Chiefs and the corresponding  and glamorous social lives of the team and it's associates. It has always been this way since the Circus Maximus and is quite understandable. The bread and circus of Rome's gladiators were the heart and soul of it's people.

  On the other side- the 49'ers- there is an extraordinarily humble quarterback(Brock Purdy), who was picked in the final draft of the 49'er

s in 2022. He has been sometimes called, "Mr. Irrelevant". It is unknown to this author as to the degree of confidence Purdy has given the enormous interest in the other team but one thing that is evident, is Purdy's faith.

  Pope John Paul II once said that "This is no time to be afraid of the gospels. It is time to preach it from the house tops". Purdy seems to be an advocate of this type of thinking as he espouses his faith frequently.

  It's possible that he sees and follows a narrower and yet wiser path than just the pursuit of glory and a $30,000 ring. It's clear to this author that although Purdy is a gallant sportsman who wants to win, his priority is to build up treasure in heaven. A few years from now, sports fans will forget the game and the luster of the ring will fade but win or lose, his faith and the inspiration he has imparted to others will always remain.  Mr. "Irrelevant" has proven that he is perhaps more deserved of the nickname his team mates have given him- "Mr. Relevant". He's pointing to a statement which has been said in Genesis, 1st Corinthians and in the gospels. One that is more "Relevant" now, than ever, that, "Those who are 1st now will be last and those that are last now, will be first".