Philip, I like your idea of being at the finish line while simultaneously fighting to stay there. I used to be a sprinter. My coach would always remind us that the difference between first and sixth was a matter of inches at the finish line. It is those last few inches that are the hardest and define victory. Speaking for myself …. Every time I sin I am standing with the Pharisees, a hypocrite. The difference is, I don’t really want to be there. It takes persistence. I always think of Mother Teresa’s struggle in her relationship with God. What made the difference for her is her iron will to never abandon God despite the feeling at times that she had been abandoned. She was always authentic.
Thanks Deacon, I formed the notion while reading a commentary on reading Paul through the lens of the motif the end of age. Since Paul is writing thinking the end of the age is imminent—he writes with a confidence that if believers persevere, they’re already found among the elect.
When I use to teach Catechism, I use to have the children turn their back to an icon of Jesus that was in our room. I’d explain that when we’re baptized we’re face to face with Jesus, but when we choose to sin we turn away from him & wander away from the finish line so to speak.
The Hebrew word for repentance is shüv & I use to have the kids repeat the word & turn toward Jesus as a reminder of what happens when we confess our sins during the sacrament. The word shüv literally translates to turn towards & so it was a fun little exercise.
Philip, I like your idea of being at the finish line while simultaneously fighting to stay there. I used to be a sprinter. My coach would always remind us that the difference between first and sixth was a matter of inches at the finish line. It is those last few inches that are the hardest and define victory. Speaking for myself …. Every time I sin I am standing with the Pharisees, a hypocrite. The difference is, I don’t really want to be there. It takes persistence. I always think of Mother Teresa’s struggle in her relationship with God. What made the difference for her is her iron will to never abandon God despite the feeling at times that she had been abandoned. She was always authentic.
Thanks Deacon, I formed the notion while reading a commentary on reading Paul through the lens of the motif the end of age. Since Paul is writing thinking the end of the age is imminent—he writes with a confidence that if believers persevere, they’re already found among the elect.
When I use to teach Catechism, I use to have the children turn their back to an icon of Jesus that was in our room. I’d explain that when we’re baptized we’re face to face with Jesus, but when we choose to sin we turn away from him & wander away from the finish line so to speak.
The Hebrew word for repentance is shüv & I use to have the kids repeat the word & turn toward Jesus as a reminder of what happens when we confess our sins during the sacrament. The word shüv literally translates to turn towards & so it was a fun little exercise.