Homily for Tuesday, Week 4 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Tuesday
4th Week of Ordinary Time

Feb. 4, 2025  
Heb 12: 1-4
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

Runners on via della Conciliazione,
Rome, May 19, 2012

“Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Heb 12: 1).

St. Paul also compares perseverance in the faith to running a race—training for it, observing the rules of competition, and anticipating the winner’s crown of laurels (1 Cor 9:24-27; 2 Tim 2:5).  In 2 Timothy he refers to the nearness of his completing the course and being awarded a “crown of righteousness” (2 Tim 4:7-8).

The author of Hebrews takes a slightly different approach.  He refers to the spectators, the “great crowd of witnesses” (12:1).  These are the heroes of old of whom he spoke in the previous chapter, part of which was our 1st reading yesterday.  These witnesses, like fans in the Garden or the Superdome, give athletes—Christ’s athletes in this case—an incentive to compete well and win the race or the game.

Hebrews also speaks of “ridding ourselves of every burden that clings to us” (12:1) while we run.  A runner might train while wearing ankle weights, for instance, but wouldn’t wear them in the race itself, nor a heavy jacket even on a frosty morning.  The author’s explicit about the burden that impedes our Christian race:  sin (12:1).  We know that, of course.  But how often we need a reminder to continue our conversion.  We won’t win the race until we cast aside whatever distracts or impedes us from giving ourselves totally to our Lord Jesus.

So the letter reminds us to “keep our eyes fixed on Jesus” (12:2) as our goal, our finish line.  That’s just what Jesus himself did while enduring his passion; he set his sight on “the joy that lay before him” (12:2), i.e., his vindication and glorification by his Father.

That same joy is promised to us, brothers, as we endure our daily crosses, even joyfully bearing them.  Maybe we’re not racing toward the finish line, just plodding along.  But, as Aesop teaches, “slow and steady wins the race.”  Everyone focused on our Lord Jesus will, like him, win a “seat at the throne of God” (cf. 12:2).