Running the Race – Convo 2024

Just about two weeks ago I returned from Erie, Pennsylvania and the wonderful week of Convo 2024, which had the theme, “Running the Race” taken from St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians.  At Convo I had the opportunity to give the closing lecture and presentation during a week filled with learning more about our Lord, spending time in worship and prayer and having five days of fun with the youth, adults and clergy of the Church.  I would like to share with all that presentation to our P.N.C.C. youth.  It is a reminder that while we could not all come to Convo, we certainly are all called to learn the lessons that were shared with the gathered youth. 

Although the Convo examined a number of different scriptural citations during the week, the primary theme was based on St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians: “Do you not 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 Corinthians 9:24-25) 

We begin by taking a look at some of the items within this verse.  “Run in such a way to win.” This is really the point of our Christian life.  No one runs any sort of race so that they can come in second place.  And in fact, it’s not just true for sporting events, but we think like that for most everything in life.  We seek to be the best we can, if we are going to do something.  But somehow things end up being a little different when it comes to our religious life.  So many have a view where we just coast along in our life of worship and prayer.  Maybe we do not realize what exactly is involved here.  We are speaking about uniting ourselves to Jesus, in moments of prayer, in hearing His word in Scripture and preaching, in receiving Him truly present in Holy Communion.  It really should be one of the most important things in all of our life and we should be striving to participate ever more fully in this important part of our daily living.  But we can ask, what exactly do we need to fulfill this role?

If we are going to run so that we may win, then surely we are going to have to train.  No athlete thinks that they will be able to win a race without some practice and perseverance.  And together with that we need to have our eyes fixed on a goal.  Here comes the second of the verses of Scripture that we examined, from the Letter to the Hebrews: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings to closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, Who for the sake of 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.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Again, if we are to look at some of the important items here, we see that we do all of this running “the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”  Racing to be united with Jesus is the point of all that we do in the religious life.  But of course, if we are seeking to do this we must also train in the right way.  And our training must be the Truth.  If our athletic training is going to involve a dozen donuts and several pots of coffee each day, then we will not get very far.  It must be wholesome and truthful.  This is what it means to be fixing our eyes on Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 14:6) 

A second matter is that within this training and racing we must be applying a force.  Sitting back and hoping for good things and good outcomes will not do with athletics, or for much else in life either.  Effort must be put in.  This, in fact, is what training is all about.  This force, or effort, must also be applied in all areas of our life.  We must come weekly to Holy Mass, when we are feeling great about going and also when we are not.  We must listen to the homily when it is difficult to understand or enjoyable.  This effort must be applied for our whole lives, each day, each week, each year.  It must be applied across a distance.  And it means setting aside these days and times to spend in worship, finding times and places where we can perform acts of mercy and loving kindness toward others.  Some may know that I had obtained a math and physics degree as an undergraduate before I came to seminary, so when someone says: Force times a distance, I immediately think, that’s what Work is.  This work is applying the effort of our religious training through the totality of our entire lives. 

Lastly, in the Hebrews quote we also see that we are called to “run with perseverance.”  We strive to emulate our “Lord Jesus, Who endured the cross.”  When we hear words like persevere or endure we remind ourselves that all of this is a Struggle.  But it is not a struggle that wears us down or wears us out, but rather it is one in which we find hope and joy.  We know that there is a joyous goal to this struggle that that is following Jesus.  It is hope and joy because we have our “eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.”  And this is striving for “the joy that was set before Him.”  It is set before Him, which means that it is set before us as well, because we are following Jesus. 

So, we see here that in fact what is needed to run the race so that we can win is to follow the motto of our Holy Church: Truth, Work and Struggle.  But of, course we must realize that these concepts are not really the totality of the motto of the Polish National Catholic Church.  In Polish the motto is: Prawdą, Pracą, Walką.  This is really, through truth, through work and through struggle.  So we can then ask, what will we accomplish, through truth, through work and through struggle?  The motto of the Church is extended with the word: Zwyciężymy.  Through the years in the P.N.C.C., this word has been variously translated as, “we will overcome”, “we will triumph”, or even most simple as “we will win.”

So my brothers and sisters, we have had the lesson of what is needed to win the race of life and receive the crown of righteousness all along.  It is found within the motto of our Holy Church.  So, I encourage each and every one of you, to notice the symbol of our Church, and I’m sure that you see it when you come to Church on Sunday or when you receive some paper or electronic communication from the Church or even on this edition of God’s Field.  Remember what this symbol is saying to us as we seek to make our way along the road of life.  We must embrace the Truth of Jesus that is found within the Holy Scriptures and within the Tradition of our Catholic faith.  We must Work as we train ourselves to follow our Lord, especially in our lives of prayer, worship and Holy Communion.  We must Struggle as we continue to put this training into practice in our lives, not just for a week or for a season, but for our whole lives long.  And then through truth, through work and through struggle, we will win the race of life which is to be united with our Lord and receive the crown of righteousness. 

St. Paul tells us this is the last quote from Scripture that we examined at Convo from the Second Letter to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

Let us seek to run the race of life and faith so that we may win. Long to see Jesus in others, long to follow Jesus in how you live, long to be like Jesus in your acts of love and mercy.  Long to be with Jesus in moments of prayer, worship and in receiving Him in Holy Communion.  Long for the appearing of Jesus that you may receive the crown of righteousness.