Why this homily matters?
If God loves me and has a plan for my life, then should I not expect to always win in life? And yet – I end up in horrible situations. For example, think of sin or think of addictions. The race is lost. Can this be God’s plan for me? How do I finish the race?
Using inspirational examples, Fr Mike describes that God may not give us victory in life. However, he gives us what we need to finish. We need to recognize our deeper identity as a child of God as opposed to what is ailing us in the moment.
And we are not alone either. A cloud of witnesses follow in support of us! From Saints to Jesus himself, all witness and encourage us to finish our race.
Key Points
There are fundamental truths to be learned. God is good. God loves us. And God has a plan for your life.
However, we can draw some incorrect conclusions from these facts. If God loves me and has a plan for my life, then I will win in life always. All I am going to do is win.
But we soon realize that this is not the case. We don’t always emerge victorious.
Prophet Jeremiah – A Life in the Mud
In the first reading from Jeremiah, we hear of the Israelites lowering him into the cistern and Jeremiah sank into the mud. This is basically repeated his whole life.
But consider that God had told Jeremiah the following:
Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I dedicated you. A prophet to the nations, I appointed you.
If you were Jeremiah, would you not think good things are going to happen to you in your life.
Instead he starts prophesying and zero people repent.
In response to him living out the life to which God had called him, he is lowered into a cistern. Despite having been called to this life from his mother’s womb, he finds himself sinking into the mud.
How many of us are stuck in the mud in our lives? Can we not ask? God if you called me, then why am I here? If you have a plan for my life, then why am I sinking in the mud?
Later, they release Jeremiah from the cistern. He returns to prophesying and again no one listens.
Eventually he is taken to Egypt. There, his own people stone him to death.
Jeremiah never wins during his entire life.
Sometimes God gives us the win but sometimes all we get is what we need to finish to race.
Is that enough for you?
The Life of Mark Ji Tianxiang
Mark Ji Tianxiang was a Catholic man living in 19th century China. He was married, had children and became a doctor. As a physician, he would offer his medical services for free to those people in his town. He knew that God had called him. He knew that God was good and had a plan for his life.
When he was 30 years old, he developed a stomach ailment. As was the practice at that time, he prescribed himself opium. He promptly became addicted to it.
Steadfastly, he kept praying. He kept going to mass and for confession.
However, after 3 years of this addiction and confessing it, his priest came to a decision. This priest viewed the addiction solely as personal choice. He did not understand opioid addiction as we do today. Mark Ji Tianxing was told that he could no longer receive Communion if he kept using opium. For the next 33 years, he showed up to Mass as often as he could but did not receive Holy Communion.
He continued to pray every day. He prayed to make him a martyr because he could not beat the addiction.
In 1900, the Boxer Rebellion occurred in China. 24000 Catholics were murdered and martyred. This included Mark Ji TIanxiang, his wife, his kids and his grandkids. He begged those doing the killing, that he should die last, so no one in his family would have to die alone.
Mark Ji TIanxing died an opium addict. He never got the win. Sometimes God only gives us what we need to finish the race.
In the year 2000, Pope John Paul II declared Mark Ji Tianxiang as St Mark Ji Tianxiang
He died with a deeper identity than that of an addict.
Derek Redmond Loses But Still Manages to Finish the Race
In the summer Olympics held in Barcelona in 1992, one event that stands out is the 400 meter dash. The incident took place in one of the semi final heats. British runner Derek Redmond started well but then pulled up mid race with a muscle injury. All the other racers went past him.
The race was lost.
Still, Derek Redmond got up and started hopping on one leg to complete the race. A man jumped out of the bleachers and ran up beside him. It was his father. He put Derek’s arm around his shoulder to help him. Derek burst into tears but didn’t stop hopping. Race officials tried to stop his father and he waved them away. The race was lost but the race wasn’t over. He hopped all the way to complete the race. The incident is described as one of the top Olympic moments ever. People do not remember who won that race. But they do recall Derek Redmond.
Bring Him Home to Finish the Race! Ironman Triumph
Fr Mike then relates his experience completing an Ironman triathlon in British Columbia. The rules of the event are that the triathletes all start at 7 am and must finish by 12 am. The town is very active in its support of the athletes. They line the streets to cheer on the participants. Closer to the finish line the supporters are several rows deep. Around the finish line, there are bleachers. The custom is after you finish the race, you would get a bite to eat, shower and change. Then you would return to the bleachers to watch the end of the race.
At 11:45 pm, a man made a broadcast on the microphone that a runner was 2 miles out and that we needed to bring him in. People jumped off the bleachers and ran down the road to encourage him. Fr Mike held out little hope that this runner could finish on time. After all, he had been racing since 7 am. 15 minutes would be achievable if you were just starting out but was unlikely after 17 hours of exertion.
Another announcement came after 7 minutes. The runner had covered a full mile. But he still had 1 mile to go in 8 minutes. The announcement called for us to bring him in. More people ran down the road to offer their support. This man came sprinting down the home stretch. A roar of audible encouragement preceded him. Behind him was a throng of other runners in a V- formation. All of them had completed the race before but now were again running in support of this person. They could not run his race for him but they could support him. He finished the race at 11:59:47 pm! There were tears of jubilation at the accomplishment.
This resembles the cloud of witnesses that supports you as you run your race.
A Cloud of Witnesses Enable You to Finish the Race
God gives us people all around us to help us finish.
In the letter to the Hebrews, the author describes a cloud of witnesses. He mentions Jeremiah, not by name, but by his death as he was stoned to death.
Let us persevere in running the race. If you are still here, it does not matter if the race has been lost. Your race is not over. You do not have permission to give up. Even on the worst day, you do not have permission to quit. There is a cloud of witnesses around you all there to support you.
Think of Jeremiah. Remember St Mark Ji Tianxiang and all the Saints before us who finished their race. Think especially of our Lord Jesus. If you looked at his life, you would not see someone who won having ended up on a cross. But he definitely finished.
Even if he doesn’t give you the victory, God will give you what you need to finish the race.
Suggested Homily
Scripture References
Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10
Psalms 40:2-4, 18
Hebrews 12:1-4
Luke 12:49-53