“Léon Bloy wrote: 'Life holds only one tragedy: not to have been a saint”

“God creates out of nothing. Wonderful you say. Yes, to be sure, but he does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.” ― Soren Kierkegaard: (1813 – 1855: was a Danish philosopher, theologian, & poet)

Scripture Text: (HEB 12:1-4)

Brothers and sisters:
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.
For the sake of the joy that lay before him
Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame,
and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.
Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners,
in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

I see today’s readings as typifying how Jesus and the Christian Community build on the whole of Salvation History.

The beginning of today’s text from the Epistle to the Hebrews suggested that the readers were being watched. I found myself wondering by whom until I went back to the preceding chapter. There the author laid out the Old Testament history upon which Jesus would build. He outlined the faith and suffering that the Chosen People endured. It seems to me that the “heroes” of Salvation History were those who were watching. In today’s reading the author reminds us of Jesus’ suffering. The letter shows Jesus’ role in fulfilling what has come before. It also outlines the expectations on those who believe.