Reflection of Pat Edmonds “Against All Odds” as presented at a joint service held at Forest Home United Church on August 28th, 2022. Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:29 -12:2. Pat Edmonds is a Licensed Lay Worship Leader in Shining Waters Region. You can also find a Zoom recording of the service on our Facebook page.
I’m sure that you sometimes spend time watching live coverage of sports events on television – whether the recent homerun derby, the Tour de France, the Raptors, Blue Jays or last week’s tennis matches. I find it to be an overwhelming, uplifting experience and often wonder how I would feel as a parent of one of these athletes as they give their all, often extending beyond normal human limits. Through modern technology we can all see these athletes doing their best. We can all be spectators or part of the “cloud of witnesses” who see first-hand their accomplishments after countless years of training, disappointments, sacrifice and endurance. In that cloud of witnesses are many who have trained, supported, and loved these athletes through all their trials, disappointments and triumphs.
In this week’s reading from Hebrews we hear of the “cloud of witnesses”, not to sporting events, but to our lives as Christians. I began to think of the cloud of Christian witnesses who have helped shape my faith journey and cheered me on. First, my parents who communicated their faith in God to me. Then the Sunday School teachers who captured my interest with wonderful stories from the Bible. My CGIT leaders, both of them called Jean, who first encouraged me to participate in worship by reading scriptures for the Annual Christmas Vesper Service. Somehow they gave a very shy 11 or 12 year old the confidence to stand at the pulpit and read in front of a congregation. Little did they realize then what they had started! Then I think of all the people, women in particular, I have worked and worshipped with in United Church Women – UCW members from all across Canada. I thank God for all these Christian witnesses who have helped shape me into the person I am today. I know all of you have met and journeyed with a cloud of witnesses too – people who have traveled your faith journey alongside you. I invite you to take a moment to think of one person who is in your cloud of witnesses, someone who gave you encouragement, comfort or assistance and watched you grow in the faith.
The book of Hebrews continues the recitation of stories of the faithful which began last week. In these messages from Hebrews 11, we meet great people of faith who overcame impossible odds. Their stories are captured for us, not on the World’s Most Amazing Videos or Tick Talk but in the Bible. Those who are listed are not listed for never having failure in their lives; for they did. They are listed, instead for having faith in their lives. In verses 29-34 we see sharp contrasts between those who put their faith in God – the Israelites and Rahab; and those who do not – the Egyptians and the people of Jericho. Today’s text reminds us that “by faith” God’s people not only ventured into the unknown, but they also did some amazing things against the odds. The inclusion of Rahab suggests that people who live by faith are not always who we think they may be. Rahab is both a foreigner and a prostitute, yet by her faith she risked her own life to save the lives of others. Some of the great and revered names are listed. After listing several examples, the author asks, “Need I go on?” Then those whose faith was proved through suffering, persecution, torture and even death are also included. There isn’t enough time to speak of everyone, such as all the prophets, and even martyrs of the present age. The point is that there are countless examples of people who have persevered in faith against all odds. They are the ones who become mentors for us today – who seek justice, act kindly, endure hardship, even death, because their faith in God looks toward a world made new. These people gave their all, simply because they knew God was with them. And they didn’t even have the benefit of knowing the Messiah! How much more, then, should we who have met Christ “hang in there and not lose hope.
The community for which Hebrews was originally written is believed to have faced serious persecution. Concerned that people would turn away from Christian faith, the writer encourages the people of God to hold fast, recalling the faithful who have gone before – the “cloud of witnesses”. They persevered against odds to the very end, and encourage us to do the same. In this passage the Christian life is not compared to a sprint, but to a marathon. In a sprint you run as fast as you can for a short distance, and speed is the critical factor. But in a marathon, stamina or endurance is the critical factor. Finishing the race is critically important for all who would call themselves followers of Christ.
In the 1986 New York City Marathon, over 19,000 runners entered the race. What is memorable, however, is not who won, but who finished last. His name was Bob Wieland. He finished dead last – 19,413th. Bob completed the New York Marathon in 4 days, 2 hours, 47 minutes and 17 seconds. It was unquestionably the slowest marathon in history – ever. So what is it that made Bob’s marathon so special? Bob ran with his arms! 17 years earlier while in Vietnam, Bob’s legs were blown off. He sits on a 15 pound saddle and covers his fists with pads. He uses his arms to catapult himself one arm-length at a time. He can travel a mile in an hour. That is real endurance in the face of adversity.
Like Bob those who are still running the race, that’s us, are to set aside anything that holds us back, including “ sin that clings so closely.” Some ancient manuscripts translate these words in 12:1 as “sin that distracts.” Both versions invite us to reflect on what distracts us from the forward movement in our own faith journeys. The writer’s use of “we” and “us” signals that this race is not a solo run, just as many sporting events are not. Relay races or team sports require every person to be skilled and to give their all. The community of the faithful journeys together – not in competition, but in a spirit of collaboration and encouragement. These words encourage a community that is struggling to persevere, not through examples of those who received the promise, but because of those who persevered in faith against the odds. These verses were written to encourage a group of Christians who, faced with increasing opposition, were in danger of losing their faith. They are reminded that faith can motivate people to do great things and to overcome fear and discouragement.
The culmination of the list of the faithful (and the conclusion of today’s passage) is the admonition to keep focused on Jesus, the pioneer and perfector of our faith. Jesus didn’t give up. He understood that, even when things did not seem pleasant or even bearable, God would sustain him.
As the metaphor of the race in the passage from Hebrews implies, choosing faithfulness is neither easy nor passive. It can be demanding and often requires change and growth. The way of faith prepares us for the coming of God’s dominion, but it also breaks down well-worn molds of expectations in our lives as we seek to become the people God calls us to be. Whenever one attempts to tamper with the status quo, division, discord and resistance are unavoidable. As disciples of Christ we must discern what God is calling us to do and just because divisions may happen, it doesn’t change our call. Sweeping changes come about in our lives, in the world and, yes, even in our local church and our denomination. For several years as members of a congregation and Shining Waters Region we have been asked to reorganize some of our thinking and the ways we do church. The status quo is being challenged, divisions may occur and families may even be split. But this is a necessary part of our lives as Christians and members of the United Church of Canada. In Luke 12 Jesus describes the costs of discipleship in terms of the divisions it may cause. Even families may be divided by different understandings of what it means to be faithful. These conflicts can arise as believers reorder priorities, reshape behaviours, and rethink goals.
As Christians we are not unlike athletes. The Christian life requires a well-disciplined spirit and body. Bodies not given sufficient training go soft. So do spirits, wills and feelings. Paul was a spiritual athlete and expected his friends in the early church to follow his example. When athletes are interviewed either before or after a competition, they often speak of FOCUS. If a winner, they contribute their success to the fact that they were totally focused on the task at hand. If not, they often say they lost their focus or for a split second focused on the wrong thing. We too, as a Christian family need to be sure we have the right focus and do not waiver from it. Our focus can be readily found in the scriptures: love our neighbours as ourselves and serve God in all we do. We are to take our place in the “cloud of witnesses”, to be the mentors, along with those of the past, for the current and future generations. Are we ready to run the race against all odds, persevere in faith despite the challenges in our everyday lives, and finish the journey we have begun? The prize is not a medal, gold, silver or bronze, but something even more precious – eternal life. Thanks be to God.