Jesus, perfecter of faith - 4th week tuesday

The letter to the Hebrews sees Christian life as a race.  But this kind of race does not have a connotation of speed.  So it does not speak of a sprint for example, a 100 meter, 200 meter, 500 meter, or a 1,000 meter race.  No, it speaks of a long distance run, a marathon.  A marathon is a 42.195 kilometer run, an ultra running event.  So this race is not about velocity or speed. Rather this is about perseverance.  It is about persistence and determination, it is about resolved and endurance, this is about sticking it out no matter what, this is sticking it in, never giving up.  Thus the letter says, persevere in running.

We have a Filipino attitude we simply refer to as ningas kogon.  Like dried kogon burnt in fire the initial eagerness is there, hot blazing enthusiasm, but it does not last.  We lose interest, we could not complete what we have started.  In Korea they say they have an equivalent phrase for ningas kogon.  Literally translated the Korean phrase is “resolution good for only three days.”  I think that captures what ningas kogon want to convey.

Isn’t this true in many of us?  We resolve not to gossip and many times we last only for a month.  Some last only for a week.  When the pope came we were enthusiastic about his challenges for us and for our communities but after two weeks our enthusiasm wanes and the papal visit became just one of those events that passed us by, and a costly one at that.  All good is measured by how far and how long we persevere in that good.

So what does the letter to the Hebrews advice?  It says that it could help if we rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us.  The terminology is the same used to say trim down and lose weight.  There are useless weights that slow us down, hinder our movements, and reduce our capacity to move freely.

What are these?  It can be our attachments.  One can be so attached to things for example or possessions.  We can also be attached to our routine, we become impatient if someone or something disturbs it or diverts our course.  We can be attached to our ideas we refuse to listen and we hate people who have ideas oppose to ours.

Sin can also burden us especially favorite sins.  Do you have a favorite sin?  One of our many favorite sins is to put down other people so that we will look better and we become the hero.  Another favourite sin is sunggod or what young people call making tampo.  Other sins would include gossip, addictions in our relationships, clinging to people who could affirm you even it this is bad company.  Pride can be a favorite sin and sometimes we give it a good name or should I say a good excuse – justice, sakto man ko ya.  These are attitudes that burden us in running a race that calls for endurance and persistence.  They burden us constricting our freedom of movement and weigh us down unnecessarily.

The letter to the Hebrews advice us further to focus on Jesus, fixed your eyes on Jesus because he is the leader and perfecter of faith.  First look at what Jesus gave up, he gave up so many things in his life for our sake.  For one he gave up his divinity to become human like us.  Second look at what Jesus endured.  He had to suffer, and die, he had to embrace pain, to accept shame.  And thirdly look at what he merited because he endured – he is now seated at the right hand of God.  Focus your eyes on Jesus so that you can persevere and endure.