20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle C, Year II)

Community Word:
True followers of Christ remain faithful, vigilant, persevering and humble servants in building God’s Kingdom.

Theme:
We build God’s Kingdom when we rid ourselves of every sin and fix our eyes on Jesus.

Promise:
“…you will not grow weary and lose heart.”(Heb 12:3b)

Reflection:
Christian life maybe compared to running a race towards a finish line.  It can be a marathon where endurance is key to finish a long run.  Our journey of faith can also be compared to running a steeplechase where the course is strewn with barriers, water jumps, and hazards along the track. These obstacles come in varied sizes at different stages of the race and cannot be avoided if the runner is to complete it successfully.  In the same token, a Christian is like an athlete who has to endure and face trials and temptations in his journey to reach the finish line of holiness.

In a competitive race, an athlete has to reach the finish line ahead of others to emerge as the winner.  Similarly, in the Christian race, all Christian followers should aim to become Christ-like and be “spiritual” champions.  A spiritual champion is one who trains hard – “Train yourself to be godly”(1 Tim. 4:7), and enters the track possessing a will to win the prize – “I have a desire to be with Christ” (Phil 1:23).  He has the discipline, focus and commitment to finish the race and is ready for any self-sacrifice required to grow and mature in every hurdle he encounters -“Learn to endure hardship(Heb12:7).

While the destination of all Christians isto be Christ-like, the journey that brings us there is different for each one. Maybe for some, their track has more bends and curves than others which hinders them from running faster.  This may involve criticisms and oppositionsagainst standing for Jesus, periods of loneliness and uncertainty when the way is not clear, spiritual dryness or feeling lukewarm and indifferent. There are times when we feel like slowing down, wanting to quit or just drop out. Endurance, perseverance and true grit are required to work through thesehindrances and make it to the end.

Let us also draw our inspiration from the “… great cloud of witnesses”(Heb 12:1) who are in the stand of the racetrack cheering for us.  At one point, the Saints also stumbled, committed faults and experienced failures, but they ran and finished the race set before them.  We too can do it.  Just as St. Paul told the Corinthians, he is telling us now: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man,”(1Cor 10:13).  As God’s people, we are running the race of faith, hope and love, and the prize is not mere gold medal, but the greatest prize of glory – the Heavenly Kingdom.

So, let us run “laying aside every weight” and ridding ourselves of any burden and sin that would weaken our faith and pull us away from the race.  Let us keep our heads up, looking to Jesus until we cross the finish line.  Let us be inspired by these beautiful encouraging words of St. Paul to the Philippians:“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus,”(Phil 3:13-14).

Trusting in God and following Jesus by the power of the Spirit is not a one-time event, but a life-long endeavor.  This race has no time outs, no breaks, no intermissions, and no half-times.  We should be motivated daily by the passage from the book of Revelation – “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne,”(Rev 3:21).

Are you running the race well as God’s chosen athlete? Remember that Christ, who is our very life, always runs with us.  Let us put this week’s promise in our hearts, “…you will not grow weary and lose heart,” (Heb 12:3b).

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give us the confidence that we will run our race of faith well. Remove all sin, bad habits and distractions which are weighing us down.  Grant us the grace to be inspired by the examples of all Saints who overcame the flesh, world and Satan to be able to cross the finish line of holiness.  But most of all, fix our eyes on Your Son, Jesus Christ that when we finish the race we will see Him face to face in Heaven.  Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1.What are the present obstacles in your life that slow you down in your journey of faith? What actions are you takingto overcome them?

2.Share with other community members how you are enduring patiently in your walk of faith.

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 14, 2016 (Sun)  Jer 38:4-6,8-10/Ps 40:2-4,18/Heb 12:1-4/Lk 12:49-53
August 15, 2016 (Mon)  Rv 11:19;12:1-6,10/Ps 45:10-12,16/1Cor 15:20-27/Lk 1:39-56
August 16, 2016 (Tue)  Ez 28:1-10/Dt 32:26-28,30,35-36/Mt 19:23-30
August 17, 2016 (Wed)  Ez 34:1-11/Ps 23:1-6/Mt 20:1-16
August 18, 2016 (Thu)  Ez 36:23-28/Ps 51:12-19/Mt 22:1-14
August 19, 2016 (Fri)  Ez 37:1-14/Ps 107:2-9/Mt 22:34-40
August 20, 2016 (Sat)  Ez 43:1-7/Ps 85:9-14/Mt 23:1-12

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”

WSC Reflection 14 August 2016Final