Kobe Bryant, Catholics and the Cross
Bryant found his calling, bore crosses, returned to his Church and died serving his family
“Christianity is the only major religion to have as its central focus the suffering and degradation of its God. The crucifixion is so familiar to us, and so moving, that it is hard to realize how unusual it is as an image of God,” — PBS series, “The Christians.’’
The Kobe Bryant life story is so Catholic. He found his calling, bore crosses, returned to his church and died serving his family.
When he was just 12, Kobe Bryant could have been one of the Lower Merion Twp., Pa. school children killed when the John Heinz plane and a helicopter crashed into Lower Merion Elementary School. Instead, he thrived.
The following year, 1992, Bryant enrolled at Lower Merion High School just two miles from the Heinz helicopter crash site. His helicopter crash, instead, came Sunday, 29 years later.
Like Jesus and so many children, he followed in his father’s footsteps. He was called to play basketball, and was recognized nationally, picked by the LA Lakers right out of high school.
He took his mission to another level, becoming a symbol for all basketball players throughout his career just as Michael Jordan was before him…
