From the Sunday Note, with additional thoughts:
Brothers and sisters:
Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us
and persevere in running the race that lies before us
while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,
the leader and perfecter of faith.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
he endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Hebrews 12:1-4 Sunday’s 2nd reading
The writer of Hebrews has just completed a list of men and women, “a cloud of witnesses,” who had been faithful to God throughout the Old Testament era. Not perfect people by any means, but faithful ones. Now, he calls upon us, his contemporary hearers, to follow in their footsteps.
Let’s turn his admonition into questions for a mixed group of 21st century Americans, some actively involved in the Catholic Church or other churches, and some who are not, but who consider themselves good, if secular, people.
Do you recognize yourself as a person who falls short of your own expectations? Do you recognize yourself as a person who (may, might, maybe…) sins? Have you considered exactly what “sins” would include? If you are a churchgoer, does your list of sins differ from what your church and Scripture teach? If so, are you a ‘church of one’? Or do you seek out those who agree with you to look the other way when certain sins are mentioned or present themselves to you?
Do you understand that you carry a “burden” of inclinations towards always giving yourself the benefit of a doubt—but likely also towards holding others more strictly to account? An inclination towards indulging desires you would not want to broadcast? An inclination towards laziness about trying to grow in relationship with God if there is one? Or laziness about finding out if there is one at all? An inclination towards thoughtlessness concerning others while seeing to it that you are treated fairly and justly? An inclination to live and let live that is actually “live in and with some sinfulness” while not condemning others so they can live “in and with some sinfulness” too?
Can you imagine living your life in a different way—a way that takes Jesus as your leader, Jesus as one who can “perfect” (that is, strengthen and complete) what little faith you may have?
In the final line of our reading, Hebrews’ writer looks us over and notes, that, well, we may say we are good, but we are not exactly sweating blood in our efforts to see that it is true!
So, here is a challenge. Think of one (just one) area of life where you know, and you know that you know, that you fall short of or go flatly against what Jesus, Church, and Scripture teach. It can be something you actively do in thought, word, or deed that is wrong. It may be some good you know you should be doing, but you are not doing it. Fix your eyes on Christ and ask for help. Tell him you know you are beset by this sin. Persevere in doing this. Listen for his wisdom. It may come to you in prayer, in Scripture, in a sermon or a talk with a faithful, mature, trusted ally. At the right time, act in wisdom. Then take one more step.
For further reflection:
“Persevere in doing this.” We are hasty creatures, as Treebeard would say of us. Our Lord is quite patient with us–be what you think of as patient with Him. Then be patient with yourself as you figure out what happened. It may begin with a fairly quick turning, but it will take a lifetime to work its way through.
Note: Wedding in the family, so I won’t be posting here again until the 29th or 30th. Thanks.