If we look at today’s Gospel, Luke 12:49-53, we might think that Christians are very
difficult people: families are divided two against three. Fathers are split against sons and
mothers against daughters and daughter-in-law.
We know that really isn’t the case. Rather than dominate others, Christians are taught
by Jesus to serve others, not to judge, not to speak harshly, to love enemies and to
forgive seventy times seven.
What is there about Christians that divides them from others? The early Christian Letter
to Diognetus speaks of the relationship of Christians to other people: “Christians love all
men, but all men persecute them.” According to the letter, Christians are not
intentionally offensive but they do not think and act as other people may want them to
act.
Today’s second reading, from the letter to the Hebrews (Heb 12:1-4), compares our
Christian life with running a race. A race is a good way of explaining the life of faith.
Paul uses this example in his First Letter to the Corinthians:
Do you know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the
prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes exercise self-control in all
things, they do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable one (1
Cor 9:24-25).
Just as athletes focus their attention on winning their events, Christians need to focus
their energies on life in Christ. Even our friends may want to divert our attention from
Christ. A runner doesn’t keep surveying the crowd but pushes forward.
The Letter to the Hebrews calls upon us, “Let us lay aside every encumbrance of sin
which clings to us” (Heb 12:1).
A runner would not sprint wearing an overcoat or carrying a backpack. The lighter an
athlete is the faster he or she can go. Believers recognize that the heaviest spiritual
weight is sin. Thomas considers sin to be “the most formidable obstacle” in managing
the tribulations that arise in our life in Christ.
St. Thomas Aquinas observes: “In a race and a fight, everything weighing one down
must be set aside, so also the challenge of tribulation … Everyone who desires to run to
God successfully in spite of tribulations must put aside all obstacles” (Thomas Aquinas,
Commentary on the Letter to Hebrews, 659).
Thomas explains: “Past sin… is called a weight because it bends the soul down to what
is below and inclines it to commit other sins” (Commentary on Hebrews, 660). Psalm
38:5 affirms: “My sins weigh on me as an unbearable weight.”

We are able to be freed of sins when we bring our sins to God. Thomas remembers St.
Gregory’s words, “If a sin is not dissolved by penance, its weight soon leads to another.”
According to Thomas, the sin which “clings to us” can be understood as “the occasion of
sin, which is present, everything that surrounds us, namely in the world, the flesh, our
neighbor and the devil.” This sin that clings can be our “carnal affection, which is caused
by the flesh surrounding us” (Commentary on Hebrews, 660).
Thomas affirms, “Put aside your love of temporal and carnal things, if you want to run
freely” (Commentary on Hebrews, 660).
The Letter to the Hebrews urges us: “Let us persevere in running the race which lies
ahead” (Heb 12:1). Thomas reflects that we should meet every challenge, “… not only
what is imposed on us to endure patiently, but we should run willingly: ‘I have run the
way of your commandments’ (Ps. 118:32). But this struggle is proposed to us for justice:
‘Even unto death fight for justice’ (Sir. 4:33)” (Commentary on Hebrews, 661).
The Letter to the Hebrews reminds us of the many heroic people who have followed
Christ, “We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses” (Heb 12:1). Witness here is not so
much someone watching us as much as someone who offers the example of being
witnesses to Christ. The word “martyr” is based on the Greek word for “witness.”
St. Thomas points out that the witnesses are the saints because “in word and in deed
God is glorified by them.” They inspire us. Jesus’ words apply to them: “Let your light
shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven” (Mt 5:16).
Hebrews speaks of a “cloud.” of witnesses. Thomas reflects that the saints are like a
“cloud” because of their lives and their teachings refresh us, similar to the way that a
cloud gives us shade, “on account of the usefulness of spiritual consolation, for as
clouds bring refreshment, so also the example of the saints…” (Commentary on
Hebrews, 657).
Thomas asserts, “The lives of the saints impose on us the need of imitating them”
(Commentary on Hebrews, 658). Thomas recalls St. Augustine’s words, “As the Holy
Spirit speaks in the Scriptures, so also the deeds of the saints are a pattern and precept
of life.” The saints show us that it is possible to truly live the life in Christ.
Every athletic event has its challenges or difficulties. Athletes don’t win awards for
strolling down a street. Thomas calls these challenges of difficulties “tribulations.” The
Christian life entails challenges. The Second Letter of Timothy describes Paul’s attitude
toward the close of his life: “I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course” (2
Tim 4:7). What has he fought against except the difficulties and challenges that come in
living the Christian life? Thomas admits that some get worn down by “weariness of the
tribulations.” Thomas urges us: “Let it not be burdensome to suffer for Christ.”

Hebrews urges us: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus who inspires and perfects our
faith” (Heb 12:2). Thomas reflects that “Christ is the author of faith… If you wish to be
saved you must look to His example… looking on Jesus in His sufferings” (Commentary
on Hebrews, 663).
Thomas recalls the incident in the Book of Numbers when some of the people with
Moses in the desert were bitten by serpents and were cured by looking upon a bronze
serpent (Num 21:8). John’s Gospel compares this incident with the effect of turning
towards Jesus: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man
be lifted up: that whosoever believes in Him may not perish; but may have everlasting
life” (Jn 3:14). Thomas concludes: “If you wish to be saved, look on the face of your
Christ” (Commentary on Hebrews, 663).
Hebrews speaks of Christ as the one who “inspires and perfects our faith” (Heb 12:2).
Christ inspires our faith by His teachings. Hebrews states: “God had spoken to us by
His Son” (Heb 1:2). The Gospel of John announces: “No one had ever seen God; it is
the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made Him known” (Jn 1:18).
Jesus completes our faith, as Thomas affirms: “… by impressing it on the heart … ‘to
you is given not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for Him’ (Phil 1:29)”
(Commentary on Hebrews, 664).
Hebrews describes Christ as the “finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Thomas affirms:
“Since faith is imperfect knowledge, its reward consists in perfectly understanding it, as
Jesus said: ‘I will love him and will manifest myself to him” (Jn 14:21) )” (Commentary
on Hebrews, 664).
Jesus’ manifestation may involve letting go. The First Letter to the Corinthians states:
“We see now through a glass in a dark manner, but then face to face” (1 Cor 13:12).
Augustine comments: “Contemplation is the reward of faith, by which reward our hearts
are cleansed through faith” (Augustine, On the Trinity, 10). The Acts of the Apostles
speaks of God “cleansing their hearts through faith” (Acts 15:9).
Hebrews states, “Jesus, having joy set before Him, endured the Cross, despising the
shame” (Heb 12:2). Jesus resisted the attempts to make Him an earthly king (Jn 6:15),
looking to the joy of eternal life.
Thomas recalls the bitterness of Jesus’ torment: “His hands and feet were nailed to the
Cross and the shame and ignominy of His death because this was the most shameful of
deaths” (Commentary on Hebrews, 665).
Hebrews affirms the reward of Jesus’ sufferings, “… He now sits at the right hand of the
throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Thomas points out: “The exaltation of Christ’s humanity was
the reward of His Passion” (Commentary on Hebrews, 665).

The Letter to the Hebrews instructs: “Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus …” (Heb
12:2). Thomas explsind: “… looking on Jesus and not only looking, but also think
diligently upon Him, i.e. think again upon Him who endured such opposition from
sinners against Himself” (Commentary on Hebrews, 667). Thomas remembers that the
Book of Proverbs says, “In all your ways think of Him” (Prov 3:6).
Thomas attests, “An example of every virtue is found in the Cross … as Augustine said,
‘the Cross was not only the altar on which He suffered but the chair from which He
taught.” Thomas reflects that Jesus teaches every virtue on the Cross:
Look also consider, i.e., again and again, him who endured from sinners such
hostility against himself: ‘In all your ways think of him’ (Pr. 3:6). The reason for this is
that the remedy for every tribulation is found in the cross:
 For obedience to God is found there: ‘He humbled himself, being made obedient’
(Phil 2:8);
 so is piety towards one’s parents, because He provided for His mother there;
 and also love of neighbor; hence, He prayed for sinners: ‘Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do’ (Lk. 23:34);
 ‘Walk in love, as Christ loved you and delivered himself for you’ (Eph. 5:2);
 and patience in adversity: ‘I was dumb and was humbled and kept silence from
good things: and my sorrow was renewed’ (Ps. 38:30; ‘He shall be led as a
sheep to the slaughter, and shall be dumb as a lamb before his shearer, and he
shall not open his mouth’ (Is. 53:7);
 and final perseverance in all things; hence He persevered to the end: ‘Father,
into your hands I commend my spirit’ (Lk. 23:46)
(Commentary on Hebrews, 667).
As Hebrews says, “Remember how He endured the opposition of sinners; hence do not
grow despondent and abandon the struggle” (Hebrews 12:3). Thomas reflects: “The
consideration of Christ’s Passion makes us not fail” (Commentary on Hebrews, 669).
Thomas recalls the words of St. Gregory: “If Christ’s Passion is recalled to mind, nothing
is too difficult to bear with equanimity.”
Thomas reflects: “Let us not fall away from the truth of faith, as though weary in mind.”
Thomas calls to mind the words of Isaiah: “They shall run and not grow weary; they
shall walk and not faint” (Is 40:3).

Denis Vincent Wiseman, O.P.