Today is Feb. 4, Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time.
We read at today’s Mass, “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” (Heb 12:1-2).
Runners don’t look down. They glance at the ground for safety to assure their footing, but they don’t tilt their heads downward. They learn to keep their heads up.
Christian life is often described as a race, an image vividly evoked in this passage from the Letter to the Hebrews. The author calls us to persevere, shedding the burdens of sin and fixing our eyes on Christ Jesus, “the leader and perfecter of faith.” Like runners in a competition, we are surrounded by a “cloud of witnesses” — the saints who have gone before us, cheering us on as we strive toward the finish line of eternal life.
The training ground for eternal life
St. Jerome reminds us of the difficulty of running a race: “God has entered us as contestants in a racecourse where it is our lot to be always striving. This place, then, a valley of tears, is not a condition of peace, not a state of security, but an arena of struggle and of endurance.” Life, for the Christian, is not a leisurely walk but a challenging contest requiring both discipline and perseverance. Earthly life is but the training ground for our eternal reward.
So what’s the point? Today, each of us should ask: Where am I looking? Is my head held high, looking forward to Christ? Or are my eyes stuck, distracted, looking down, away from him?
Remember, this earthly “arena of struggle and endurance” is not the end; it’s the preparation for eternal victory. Run with courage! Christ runs alongside you, and the saints cheer you on.
Let us pray,
Grant us, Lord our God, that we may honor you with all our mind, and love everyone in truth of heart. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
