Here’s the Kicker!

I am a Chiefs fan by default. I was born and raised in the Kansas City metro. I live and work on opposite sides of state line, and pay taxes to both Kansas and Missouri. I like when the Chiefs win the Superbowl because it usually means school is out or that I can work from home to avoid parade traffic. I don’t necessarily watch the games, outside of the the championship games. (I stopped watching the NFL years ago for other reasons.) But if you ask me who my favorite team is, I will tell you I am rooting for the home team.

So when Harrison Butker’s name started showing up on timeline, I raised my eyebrow. I seriously doubt Butker was anybody’s favorite KC Chief before this weekend. Now his jersey sales have spiked. There are articles on every corner of the internet. I glanced at a couple. I heard a couple of hot takes on social media, and then I read the entire transcript of his commencement address for myself.

I wish I could say I was surprised by the content, but I can’t. It was exactly what I expected it to be. The only surprise for me was that Harrison Butker is only 28 years old. (How on earth is he giving his second commencement address at that age? He’s still a baby in my eyes). He acknowledged the school administration, talked about the importance of his own faith, while doubting the faith of the current president. He said that “things like abortion, IVF, surrogacy, euthanasia,…stem from a pervasiveness of disorder”.

He told students to live their faith out loud, which I think is a great thing to tell young adults starting their journey into the career force. He gave examples of a couple of saints and told the students to walk out their calling. Again, solid advice.

But the part that both the detractors and Mr. Butker’s new fans are all hyped about is what he said after that. To the women of the class of 2024, the Superbowl Champion said, How many of you are sitting here now about to cross this stage and are thinking about all the promotions and titles you are going to get in your career? Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world.” He then told the male graduates of Benedictine to: “Be unapologetic in your masculinity, fighting against the cultural emasculation of men. ”

The truth of the matter is that I am ‘”churchy” by both nature and nurture, and I have heard several variations of what Butker said during his commencement address my entire life. “A woman’s place is in the home.” “Men are natural leaders and more suited to A,B, and the rest of the alphabet too!” I know some of you are upset about it, and I understand why.

But here’s the kicker. Harrison Butker isn’t saying anything new. Your priests, pastors, preachers, and pulpiteers have probably been saying this same thing for years. Some do it in back rooms. Others say it directly from the lectern. Worse yet, is that it’s not just church. Prime minister and presidents can also think this way,

I did find it a bit curious that Butker encouraged the graduates to move to a place where a traditional Latin Mass was readily available. I would like to adapt this message to you, dear friends and readers, not that you attend a church in a foreign language, but that if the place where you attend worship service is not life-affirming, that you find a place that is.

I don’t care if that place is a traditional Latin mass or a non-denominational gathering at a community center. Find a house of worship that works for you, a place where you can experience God and community. Unlike Mr. Butker, I don’t believe we’re living in a post-God world. But like the kicker said to graduates, you were made for this!