Lenten Daily Reflection 2020-02-26
Lenten Reflection for Wednesday, February 26
Missy Trull
Hebrews 12:1-3
12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,[a] and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of[b] the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners,[c] so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.
I happen to be a pretty anxious person. I wish this were not the case, but alas, it is. There is a small list of things that help regulate or soothe my anxiety and one of those is running. Above all else, running reminds me to breathe. I run and I am connected to my breath and my body, and my head gets a break from all the worries—the dreadful futures I have imagined, the people I am convinced I let down, the task lists, the fears—and instead my mind goes blank. As I run, I relocate myself in both the strength and the limitations of my breath and body, and I can rest there, at least spiritually.
But running is hard! And tiring! And sometimes it is cold outside and my bed is so warm! So although I know it is a practice I need that keeps me grounded, connected to myself, and helps regulate my anxiety, it is still really, really hard to maintain.
So when our text today talks about “running with perseverance the race that is set before us,” in both a literal and figurative way, I get it. I think the writer might be deeply aware of the struggle of maintenance. Just as it is difficult to stay in healthy relationship with our own selves, it is difficult to stay in healthy relationship with God, and does seem to require some discipline. This week Mother Sarah and Mother Kimberlee sent out a note about Ash Wednesday and lent, explaining that this season is “a time to figure out the things in and on our hearts that are getting in the way of being in relationship with God.” This too seems to be the call of today’s verse: “lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely.”
And, the text says, “take heart,” for you are not alone. The book of Hebrews is often talked about as a sermon, meant to encourage an Early Christian community in a time of hardship. In today’s verse, we are invited to remember those who have come before us, people who have also given up something or took on a new spiritual practice to grow closer to God--Saints or family members, or friends, the “great cloud of witnesses” who are with us in spirit as we go through this season. And we remember those who are with us now, one another. I am thankful to be walking through this season in community with all of you. And then, finally, this verse invites us to remember Jesus, and how he “endured the cross for the sake of joy.” ...Joy? what “joy” is this verse talking about? The book of Hebrews presents, throughout the chapter, faith as vision into the heavenly world that is not-yet, but still-present among us. I believe this may be the “joy” the text is speaking of—the joy of experiencing the Kingdom of God, the joy of nearness to Christ and one another, the joy of soulful movements of the Holy Spirit, here and now.
So may we give-up or take-on what we know we must for the sake of this joy. And may we do so with the “cloud of witnesses” that came before us, our community present with us now, and the hope we hold for the Kingdom of God to become more and more present in this world.