(Listen to this homily here).
I’ve mentioned recently that my cross-country team in
college had go-to verses to motivate us for races. We had one of them today that is dear to my heart: “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.”
The
support of a crowd while running is an amazing thing. I have experienced this first hand while running
marathons. I may be dead tired,
wanting to lie on the sidewalk and wait for an ambulance, and the cheers or a
personal word of encouragement keep me going. Such support actually gives a runner adrenaline for a
second-wind and makes a huge difference.
We
need such support to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.
It
is interesting that our Gospel features two different crowds. In the first, the woman afflicted with
hemorrhages got to Jesus among a crowd.
Presumably she fixed her eyes
on Jesus and touched his cloak.
She was healed and heard, “Daughter,
your faith has saved you. Go
in peace and be cured of your affliction.”
If
you’re like me, you continue to find ways to help you focus more on
Christ. This is certainly a great
practice. But remember another
important feature from what happens with another crowd in this Gospel. This crowd surrounded a dead child. Jesus “…entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means, ‘Little
girl, I say to you, arise!’”
Jesus had his eyes fixed on this girl.
Jesus’
eyes are fixed on you. Never forget this fact! Jesus, as described poetically by
Francis Thompson, is like a hound of heaven. He is hunting for you!
Today
keep your eyes fixed on Christ, because his eyes are fixed on you.
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