IBIYEMI AKINWALE VICTOR
INTRODUCTION
The
Letter to the Hebrews could be summarized as a text that perfectly captures the
experience of the Christian faith. It sets out to define the Christian Faith in Chapter 11 and then
indicate further in Chapter 12 and the following on how the faith should be
lived in the Christian community even in the Christian liturgy. It is therefore
a recommended text-book for Catholics especially in this year of faith which
has been promulgated by the Church as a moment when we all need to rediscover
our faith. (Porta Fidei, no. 4). Hence,
the objectives of the Year of Faith could be spelt out thus:
1.
Encounter Christ anew
2.
Rediscover faith
3.
More conscious and vigorous
adherence to the Bible
4.
Arouse aspiration and
readiness to profess the faith
5.
Intensify the celebration of
the faith in the Liturgy
6.
Deeper devotion to the
Eucharist
7.
Learn more from the Blessed Mother
Mary, the model of Christian faith
8.
Celebrate the heroic virtues
of the Saints.
Today,
what we have before us is a “directive’ and injunction by the author of the Letter
to the Hebrews, “TO RUN THE RACE WITH
PERSEVERANCE”. Indeed we need to ask ourselves what race we are running.
What is the goal of this race? Why do we need perseverance? Of what value is
the level of our perseverance? What happens when we lose our perseverance? Especially
as it concerns you the NFSC of this hallowed Church?
Many
people think that Christianity is supposed to be a walk in the park. However,
if you were to ask the Hebrew Christians in the first century, I think they
would speak differently about what Christianity is. If we were to look at the
whole book of Hebrews, especially chapter 10, we would see that the author refers
to the persecution, hostility, and torture that these Christians were facing.
Some of the members had grown lax in their attendance. Some members had been
imprisoned, and others suffered the confiscation of their property. They were
also facing public abuse and ridicule. Now we don’t face the same kind of
persecution in our culture as the first century Hebrew Christians faced, but
our lives are not perfect even though we claim Jesus as Lord. Maybe this is why
instead of describing Christian faithfulness as a walk through the park, the
author describes it as a race, and not just a short sprint, but a long race
that requires endurance.
THE ANALOGIES: RACE, RUNNING, GOAL AND PERSEVERANCE
Have
you ever run a race? Have you ever won a medal or a trophy for running a race?
It is a thrill to run a race and hear the voices of the people who are watching
as they shout words of encouragement. It is an even greater thrill when you
finish the race and win a medal or a trophy.
It is
obvious that the writer of Hebrews is drawing upon the imagery of the Olympic Games
for this passage. Let me briefly explain the analogies in the pericope before us.
We
are not called to be sprinters. We are called to “run with perseverance the race
that is marked out for us.” We are called to “run with perseverance”. That
means that we are to run until God says stop. We are called to be
marathoners... cross country runners. Marathoners run more than sprinters. In our lives therefore as Christians, we are
called to a race- a race that is not short but a race that is enduring until
Christ says, it is finished.
Are we
just running for nothing? I Cor. 9:24-27 answers that, the Word of the Lord
says, we are running for a wreath! ‘St. Paul says: “have you not learnt
anything from a race in a stadium? Many run but one gets the prize.. Run
therefore intending to win. I run knowing where I go” The goal of (Heavenly
Race… I no go tire, heavenly race) our race is Heaven. The goal of our race is
holiness, we are running to aim at Faith (2 Tim 2:22). Hence, it is a race of
faith. The passage gave further requirements to run the: it talks about laying
aside every encumbrance that restricts us and every sin that hinders us.
SLASHING BEHIND EVERYTHING AND THE WAVE OF SIN
Note
that this directive is very open ended. It doesn’t list the things that hinder.
It simply asserts that we are to throw off “everything” that does. There are
some things that hinder everyone, but there are an infinite number of things
that may hinder a particular person. That is why there is not a list. God makes
each of us aware of the things that hinder us. We then become responsible for
stripping them off. The church, the collective conscious of God’s people, have
noted things that Christians are to avoid because experience has revealed that
these things consistently hinder Christians in running the race. Don’t take
their instruction and wisdom lightly. Church guidelines and rules are not an
organizational ploy to control our life. They identify “hindrances” that need
to be thrown off. There are also hindrances which are unique in each life
individually. These too must be thrown off. Note also that injunction speaks to
“hindrances” not sins. This is important for there are things that may not be
“sinful” but are nonetheless hindrances. There may be a relationship, a hobby,
a type of music, a type of literature, a form of entertainment, an activity, a
habit, that in and of itself is not immoral, but is clearly a hindrance to
running the race marked out for God's people. We must “throw off” such things!
By the
sin that does so easily beset us, understand that sin to which we are most
prone, or to which we are most exposed, from habit, age, or circumstances. This
is a most important exhortation; for while a man’s darling sin, be it what it
will, remains unsubdued, it will hinder him from running the Christian race, as
it takes from him every motive for running, and gives power to every
discouragement. They would literally, “throw off everything that hindered” to
run the race. No sacrifice was too great. No task to demanding.
PERSEVERANCE: THE BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY
Let’s
look at this term “perseverance”. In the Scriptures, we are encouraged to run
the race with perseverance (Heb 12:1). There are 3 intriguing verses, which
seems quite applicable. They are as follows:
Romans 5:2-4 - And we rejoice in
the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our
sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance,
character; and character, hope.
2 Peter 1:5-7-For this very reason,
make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;
6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to
perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to
brotherly kindness, love.
James 1:2-4 – 2- Consider
it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you
know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must
finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
WHAT IS PERSEVERANCE?
The
NAS New Testament Greek Lexicon defines it this way … steadfastness, constancy,
endurance. In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his
deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest
trials and sufferings patiently, and steadfastly, a patient, steadfast waiting
for, a patient enduring, sustaining, perseverance. Perseverance is an
intentional stand in faith, even in the most difficult times.
But,
how do you get there? There are two pre-steps declared in these verses that get
us to perseverance. These two pre-cursory steps are a generous helping of “self-control” (2 Pet. 1:6) or
discipline and another helping of “Suffering”
(Ro 5:3) or self-sacrifice. Neither option is an easy medicine to swallow.
However, the outcome of perseverance is maturing and completeness.
PERSEVERANCE IN PRAYER AND STUDY: MARK 7: 24-30
The
syrophoenician woman is an example for us in the gospels.
FIRST HELP IN PERSEVERANCE: THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES (HEB:
11:1-39)
The
Great Cloud of Witnesses
We are
in the arena and the race is about to begin. We stand at the starting line with
the other runners. We glance around at the great cloud of people in the stands.
There is something unusual about these people. It is obvious that they are not
mere spectators. Everyone of them is a “witness.” They have ran the race,
finished the course, fought the good fight... they are the faithful ones. They
stand as witnesses that the race can be run and the victory belongs to those
who “run the perseverance the race marked out.” They are “living testimonies”
(now in the heavenly realms) to the fact that God can “keep us from falling”
and enable us to run this race called holiness. If we are to be good
marathoners one thing we must do is learn from these witnesses. Having
completed the race they have much to teach us. Is this not why we teach our
children the stories of David, Joseph, the Apostles, and many other heroes of
faith? We believe that in telling them these stories they will learn through
their example how to live the holy life. It is no different for us. The witnesses
are a source of encouragement. When we see that they have finished the race, we
are encouraged to keep running. When we grow weary their lives cry out in
unison, “keep running; you can make it, we did!” (1 Corinthians. 11:1) They, by
the very lives they lived are cheering us on with their faithful lives.
AND ALL MEN WILL LOOK UP TO ME! THE PIONEER AND THE
PERFECTER
Good
marathoners fix their eyes on the finish line and don't stop running until they
reach it. Therefore, let us learn from the witnesses, throw off everything that
hinders, have done with the sin that so easily entangles, fix our eyes on Jesus
(the finish line), and run until He stands to catch us and says, “Okay, stop
running now; You've finished the race. Enter into my rest.”
There
is one witness, though, who forever stands in the forefront. In fact, all the
other witnesses point to Him. That is Jesus. He too is a witness. He is our
supreme example. To finish Paul’s statement noted above: “Follow my example, as
I follow Christ.” Jesus is the one who was “tempted in all ways just like us,
yet without sin.” He was fully human and therefore is the chief witness. Peter
emphatically noted in his epistle that Christ left us “an example that you
should follow in His footsteps.” (1 Pet. 2:21)
PRACTICAL TIPS TO SUSTAIN OUR PERSEVERANCE
·
Study your bible daily
·
Attend mass more regularly
·
Read Christian Catholic books
·
Visit the Blessed Sacrament
more regularly
·
Seek to know more about the
Church
·
What about your Catechism?
·
Commit yourself to Christ fully-
no syncretism!
·
Be alive in the spirit
·
Be charitable and practice
hospitality
CONCLUSION
That
is what our Bible lesson is about today. It teaches us that life is like a race
that has been set before us. We may struggle and face many obstacles, but we
have a great crowd of witnesses who are cheering us on. We have a Heavenly
Father who loves us and will help us when the pain is too great. We have a
Saviour, who left his place in heaven and came to earth to show us how to run
the race. If we will keep our eyes on him, how can we help but finish the race?
How we
patiently endure the trials and sufferings of life determine our Christian
maturity. Because life hands us tough situations, we will have trials. The
enemy of our soul would like to use these circumstances to get us to a point
where we cannot recover and complete the maturation process. In every way Satan
wants to kill, steal, and destroy you (John 10:10). But, Jesus is our Balm of
Gilead (Jer. 8:22).
Prayer: Dear Jesus, sometimes life is difficult. Help us to
keep our eyes on you and to run the race that is before us through Christ our
Lord. Amen
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