COVINGTON, La. —
If you ask Father Bill Miller at Christ Episcopal Church in Covington, he'll tell you the New Orleans Saints represent more than football in our state.
"The Saints represent some very powerful things,” said Miller. “Resurrection, rebirth, reconciliation, hope, heeling, goodness."
This Who-Dat-Nation-reping-man-of-God will also tell you when the Saints got robbed by the referees two Sundays ago it felt like someone punched him the gut. He wasn't alone in this feeling.
“Saints fans were really astonished when that call happened,” said Churchgoer and Saints fan Sue Thomas. “I was in Austin, Texas at the airport with a bunch of New Orleanians flying back to New Orleans. It was a silent Southwest Flight. We were stunned"
This special service Sunday offered Saints prayers flags instead of penalty flags and Saints themed songs but moreover the no-call is being used as teaching moment.
"Anger, grief, depression whatever they might be (going through) it's really important for us to channel those things and take the high road," said Miller. “And I actually conclude my sermon by reminding (people) of the most inconceivable religious truth of them all -- that God loves Roger Goodell. Hard to believe but it's true," added Miller with a smile.
Jokes aside, Miller says it's advice to live by on a Saints sunday, a Super Bowl Sunday, a regular Sunday and everyday.
"The only way forward, onward and upward is through love," said Miller.