My favorite deacons is a very happy Bronco fan. He was leading the Youth Group on Sunday evening, but I sent him several text messages to keep him up on the Bronco vs Steelers score. I don’t understand football, so I couldn’t send play by plays.

The Anchoress noticed an interesting coincidence:

“I must admit, I got a mild kick out of this bit on the statistics of yesterday’s Bronco game:

It’s surely all coincidence, but how many yards did Tebow throw for as he led the Denver Broncos to a 29-23 overtime win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s divisional playoffs on Sunday night?

Answer: 316.

And what did Tebow have on his eye black as he led the Florida Gators to victory in the 2009 national championship game three years ago to the day of his performance in Denver Sunday night?

Here is another one: Tebow completed 10 passes on 21 attempts Sunday. What was his average yards per pass completion?

Answer: 31.6.

And what did Tebow have on his eye black as he led the Florida Gators to victory in the 2009 national championship game three years ago to the day of his performance in Denver Sunday night?

Answer: John 3:16. [“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”]

Heh. I have always loved God’s sense of humor.

But honestly, who knows whether the whole 316-3:16 thing is God (or his angels) feeling puckish, or it’s all a giant and fun co-incidence or there is not-so-subtle reference to Luke 12:8 at play:

I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.

No one can possibly know if the freakish numbers accompanying yesterday’s game actually mean anything. Is it God being reassuring? Crafty leprechauns out to distract us from what is more important? Perhaps the numbers game is the underworld distorting issues of faith and prayer; perhaps it is the unwitting result of a collective-consciousness obsession.

Everyone will believe what they like, and we’re all free to. I tend to come down on the story somewhere between Shakespeare and a cockney philosopher: There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt in your philosophy, Horatio, and it’s a funny ol’ world, ain’t it?

Father James Martin, asked the question by the WaPo, goes full-Jesuit on the story:

All this raises the inevitable question, and one that I’ve been asked numerous times over the last few months: Is God answering Tim Tebow’s prayers?

Well, in good Jesuitical fashion the answer is: Yes, no, and I don’t know.”

Even if you don’t like football, there is a lot to glean from the post. Do go and read the whole thing.