The homily this morning was pretty predictable. It focused on the Gospel, of course, the tale of the poor man who embarrassed himself by sitting down near the head of the table at a wedding banquet. Alas, when a more distinguished guest arrived, the man was asked to give up his seat and ended up reclining way, way down at the far end of the hall, at the lowest place of all. “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Lk 14:11)
The second reading, though, from the twelfth chapter of St. Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews, was pretty powerful stuff. I had to read the whole chapter.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so close, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1)
I wonder how fast I could run, unburdened by sin, free and light, with eyes only for my Lord and God. I appreciate Paul’s passion.
Lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Strive for peace with all men, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fail to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” spring up and cause trouble, and by it the many become defiled. (Heb 12:12-15)
Good advice to a fallen world in which we are more inclined to tear each other down than lift each other up. And that “root of bitterness”. How much strife is caused in our own families by that deep-rooted weed, causing “the many to become defiled” by our angry words and begrudging actions.
For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearer entreat that no further messages be spoken to them. You have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to a judge who is God of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks more graciously than the blood of Abel. (Heb 12 18-19, 22-24)
Such a word-picture he paints, of storms and war and burning destruction and a terrible voice thundering commandments from heaven, contrasting so vividly with a vision of angels and saints, a golden city, a just God, our risen Savior. I think of the words of our beloved Pope John Paul II: “Be not afraid!” We were made for heaven, for joy, for light, for love.
Saint Paul makes it sound almost easy. So why is it so hard?