Here Come the V's!

I guess that you would have to have grown-up in Metro Halifax to know the phrase, “Here come the V’s!” It’s what the announcer shouted when the AHL Nova Scotia Voyagers took to the ice at the old Halifax Forum. It was an exciting hockey team really. The Montreal Canadians farm team. Many of the plays became stars in the NHL and some had been stars in the NHL. Those years were winning years. The Forum was often sold out and once and a while my Dad got tickets and we went and cheered for the V’s.

Back in the ‘70’s you could still expect the infamous bench-clearing-brawl. And one game in particular between the beloved hometown V’s and Rochester (I think), such a brawl ensued. And not a soul in the Forum that day could deny that the brawl was started by the V’s, who happened to be losing. Typically, in those days, before the instigator rule, two or three players on each team would be penalized and one or two given a game misconduct. This day however, when the snow settled and the penalties showing on the clock, and it was the visiting team that had two extra minutes.

Rochester left the ice in protest—to the gears and shouts of the fans. Except for two. Me and my Dad sat on our hands. An injustice, even one that favours our team is still an injustice. It is better to lose fairly than to win unfairly.

In Matthew’s Gospel (Chapter 21) Jesus questions the Pharisees as to why they question him and his authority and not John the Baptizer’s who was saying many of the same things as Jesus.

John was calling people, all people, away from the temple and it’s corruption. Jesus was call people to the Divine and a direct relationship with God, no priest, no animal sacrifice, no payment was necessary. No question about anyone worthiness. No worries about what others might think. In God’s realm, everyone is welcome.

In God’s Church today—everyone is welcome!