Loyola of Chicago’s surprising success in this year’s NCAA Basketball Tourney brought back memories from 1963 when Loyola won the championship. That year Loyola played Cincinnati in the final game. Cincinnati had won the championship the previous two seasons and were favored to be the first team in NCAA history to win three titles in a row. Loyola also had a great team, having only lost two games during the season, but nevertheless was a slight underdog.

In 1963 I was a sophomore in college, and I watched the game with about 150 others in the campus student center. This was before there were televisions in the dorms, so for most of us this was the only place we could see the game. Loyola trailed for much of the game, by as much as 15 points in the middle of the second half. They then started a comeback and were within striking distance with about four minutes to go; most of us in the room were rooting for Loyola.

At this point a campus security officer came in and chased us out, to enforce the 10:00 closing time of the student center. Most of us were shocked and astounded. We made some feeble pleas, but the officer seemed blind to the situation and ignored them. If you were a victim of the 1968 Heidi game, you will understand our feelings. Loyola went on to tie the game forcing an overtime, and in overtime Loyola won on a last second basket by Vic Rouse. I didn’t learn about this exciting outcome until I read the paper the next morning.

I’ve thought about that evening a number of times over the years, especially after seeing someone hold inflexibly to an arbitrary or nonsensical rule, decision or view. I’ve even thought of it, when I’ve caught myself doing the same. I think that there is a message here for us in the Church. We need to stay steadfast and strong in our faith in God and his promises, but I think we should also be flexible and willing to change in those parts of religion instituted by humans.

To give a serious historical example, some strongly used religion to support slavery, and later segregation. Less seriously, not so long ago, some felt that wearing anything to church other than a coat or tie (for men) or a dress (for women) was irreligious. To give a personal example, I was in a church that during the design of a new sanctuary seriously argued about whether the choir should be down in front, or in a choir loft; each side argued based on strongly held religious views. The dilemma, of course, is deciding what things are critical to our beliefs, and which are of our own design.

One thing is certain, God’s love for YOU and me is unconditional.

Jim