20th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year C
For people of the ancient world, just as for people today, it is hard to think of a greater thrill than to participate in the Olympic games, cheered on by the vast crowds towards the finish line. This exhilarating scene is a far cry from Christian life of the readers of the Hebrews, who were discouraged as they were being persecuted because of their faith. However, according to scripture, as disciples we are on a racecourse heading towards a triumphant goal. The Saints from the past rooting for us and passionately interested in the outcome of our lives.
This great contest calls for a decisive response, to rid ourselves of every burden. The verb for ‘rid oneself’ can be translated to ‘lay aside’, ‘throw off’, and is often applied to what people have to discard when following the Lord Jesus. To throw off the works of darkness, rid yourselves from falsehood, anger, gossip, moral impurity, malice and deceit. Like disciplined athletes who shed all excess body weight for the games, we should do well to remove any bulk or burden that might impede our progress from reaching the finishing line and winning our reward in Heaven.
So, let us today ask the Lord for perseverance and endurance in our Christian lives, since our race is not a sprint, but rather a distance that will include many long uphill climbs and rough terrain. Let us keep our eyes fixed on the Lord Jesus always, since he is the one, that will bring our faith and knowledge to perfection. With the Saints as our spectators, let us as for their intercession to help us complete the race we have started, and win a wreath that will never wither away.
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