All About that Grace
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (New Living Translation)
If you have been around recently you know that my current sermon series is based around Ted Lasso, which is one of my absolute favorite shows. I love the characters, I love the story, I love the seemingly endless supply of quotable lines, and I love the themes of faith I find as a pastor.
One of my favorite quotes from the show comes from season 3 episode 11 “Mom City”. The entire episode deals with second chances and grace. From the relationship between Ted and his mom, to Ted and Coach Beard’s history, to the coaching staff’s (and specifically Beard’s) relationship with Nate (also, I’m really trying to be as spoiler-free as I can just in case there are people who haven’t watched the show).
It is this final aspect - the relationship between Beard and Nate at this point - that I want to concentrate on here. The two men’s issues had been growing over multiple episodes as far back as season two. The final straw seems to be when Nate betrays Ted toward the end of the second season. Beard’s loyalty to Ted kicks in and he can no longer see Nate as anything other than an enemy. We learn later that this loyalty runs much deeper than a close working relationship. It is a loyalty that brings with it a fierce protectiveness. This all comes to a head when Ted expresses his openness to accepting Nate back into the fold, even after everything that has happened - the hurt, the betrayal. It is at this point that Ted shares one of my absolute favorite lines from the entire series:
“You know, I don’t know about you Coach, but I hope that either all of us, or none of us, are judged by the actions of our weakest moments, but rather by the strength we show, when and if, we’re ever give a second chance.” - Ted Lasso (S:3 Ep:11 Mom City)
The issue seems to be that Beard has failed to remember that despite his own weakness, he was given a second chance - whether he deserved it or not. It is that realization that enables him to offer Nate the same forgiveness and grace. Beard remembers how his own life was changed by his second chance.
In his book The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning wrote that,
Whatever our failings may be, we need not lower our eyes in the presence of Jesus. Unlike Quasimodo, the hunchback of Notre Dame, we need not hide all that is ugly and repulsive in us. Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don’t have it all together, and who are not too proud to accept the handout of amazin’ grace. As we glance up, we are astonished to find the eyes of Jesus open with wonder, deep with understanding, and gentle with compassion. - The Ragamuffin Gospel (pg.29-30)
Grace is our second chance, over and over again. It knows no limits, it is not put off by our failures and ugliness, and it stops at nothing to offer us that second (or third, or fourth, etc.) chance. It doesn’t judge us on what we think are our strengths or weaknesses, but rather it becomes the strength we are judged on. In our weakness, God’s grace becomes our strength, our second chance. It is up to us to respond to the offer.
Grace & Peace y’all,
Blake