Christian Life as a Race and Division Even in Family

We know for a fact that the best athletes in the world, at Olympic games and professional sports, who personify perfection, made a lot of sacrifices to be what they are. They lived a very disciplined life; they gave up pleasures.  For years, they made up the time to exercise and practice because that is how badly they want to win the medal, the title or championship…it is pretty much their life. 

Similarly, in matters of faith: The question to us is:  Do you want to go to heaven?  How much or how badly do you really want to go to heaven?  What are you doing about it?

Remember: We are just pilgrims in this journey of life, just passing through – because our true home is in heaven.

We heard from our second reading from the letter to the Hebrews: “Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.”

It is not so much a call to believe or to enter the faith. We are already believers – that is why we are all here - but the call is a call to remain in the faith. The challenge is to endure in the way of faith.  The letter was addressed to the Christians who were in danger of falling behind or dropping out of the race... so to speak 

Christian life is described as a race – not a sprint but a marathon – and so we need endurance, discipline and focus  - Focus on Jesus, focus on our true home – heaven… the finish line is worth it… worth all the sacrifices.

Christian journey is not about comfort but about commitment and faithfulness.

Our faith is not sustained by our own strength. The Good News is we are sustained by Christ.

Accepting Christ and keeping our eyes on Christ is not about being perfect…
It's about realizing we need a Savior and choosing to believe in the One who loves us and who is always with us.

To be able to continue in the race towards the finish line, we need to be aware of the unnecessary weights or baggage we have been carrying that hold us back.  We need to learn to travel lightly in this journey of life.

Carrying too many things in our life can keep us from getting to our destination… our true home.

Think about the weight of our possessions. It is NOT that possessions or money themselves are evil, but that they can become a deadly weight. The love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)

We need to realize how many of our daily decisions are based on money matters, financial concerns, consumerism and owning things… which at times, more often than not, cause conflict in relationships.

Secondly - Consider the weight of our responsibilities. It is good to be responsible. But, if we are not careful, we can be so busy with so many responsibilities, all representing worthy efforts, that we find ourselves having no more time to pray.  The busier you get, the longer you have to pray.

The late Pope Francis said: If we do not pray, we will not know the most important thing of all: God’s will for us.  And for all our activities, our busy-ness, without prayer, we will accomplish very little… if not nothing.

Thirdly, how about being so weighted down with worry that we cannot move; that we are paralyzed. Some worry is natural and appropriate.

But to worry about everything, or to worry excessively over things over which we have no control, is wasted energy, wasted time, and wasted living. It may also be a sign of lack of faith. Faith is an invitation to trust God in all things. 

As someone has said: "Worrying does not take tomorrow's troubles; worrying takes away today's joy and peace." 

The goal of living in God's presence on earth as it is in heaven, demands sacrifice and much discipline… Being a Christian is not easy, admittedly… just as what athletes go through – that is how they make it look so easy – after much training to prepare… and overcoming obstacles and challenges and staying focused on the goal... 

From our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah was a royal prophet at the Kings court but he refused to tell the king what the king and the people wanted to hear. And so, Jeremiah was berated and mocked… was thrown into a cistern because he stood for the truth. That is what we call integrity. 

Our faith tells us that it is truly difficult, to say the least, to stand for what it right and true… to be a Christian. It is difficult to stand for the Lord because we will be persecuted and mocked as He was.  We live in a very materialistic, secular and even atheistic society. Yet, we have to meet the challenges of Christian life, and we have to overcome all the obstacles to the truth that society put in our way. 

That is what Jesus did. He stood for the truth and was put to death. But he was not going to compromise the Word of the Father. If this meant denouncing the leaders of the Temple, he would do so. If this meant criticizing even his closest followers, he would do so.

Jesus said: “If they persecuted me; they will also persecute you.” (Jn15:20) … persecute us.

It is in this context - that we can understand the difficult gospel for this Sunday; which may seem contrary to what we hear that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

“Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.” Christian Life is counter-cultural… in conflict with worldly values.

So, the division, the conflict, even among family members, is actually the prediction – the inevitable consequence - when Christians accept and embrace the challenges of Christian life… when Christians stand for the truth… causing the strife and the sword that the Lord's presence will instill in the world; again even in the family.

Someone has said: “If you do not have enemies; be careful because it could mean you probably do not stand for anything… you go for everything.” 

“From now on a household will be divided, a son against his father, a mother against her daughter a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law”

Meaning – To give you a practical example -

Parents will be criticized for setting moral standards within their homes… for their children. Consequently, their own children will tell them that they need to “get real”; “Mom and dad, everyone’s doing it; it is the twenty-first century…”  Therefore, children demand and expect as their right – that they should be allowed to do what everyone else is doing; which - in reality – could be just contemporary immorality… Parents have to put up a terrible struggle to stand for what is right and true in their own homes, with their own children. Now – there is division in the family.

The ultimate goal of the parents for their children is for their children to go to heaven 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, the readings today tell us: Trust in God. You do not struggle alone. 

We need to keep in mind also that - As we race towards the finish line, so to speak… The Lord is not just a spectator or a coach at the sideline or at the ringside – as in boxing.  The Lord is with us inside the ring, in the battle of life. We need to keep in mind what the Lord Jesus said (Gospel of Matthew): "And behold, know that I am with you always until the end of time."

 My brothers and sisters in Christ, at the end of our life, let us hope and pray that we can say what St. Paul told Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7) – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness  - which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me. (2 Timothy 4:7-8). 

We all hopefully say: Amen!