First Reading • Isaiah 66:18-21
Psalm • Psalm 117:1, 2
Second Reading • Hebrews 12:5-7, 11-13
Gospel • Luke 13:22-30
At the Olympics a reporter once asked a gold medalist, “Was it worth all those years of training; early mornings, strict diets, missing parties, and endless hours in the gym?” The athlete smiled, held up the medal, and replied, “Every second was worth it. This didn’t come cheap.”
That short story captures something essential: greatness never comes easily. Whether in sports, academics, or any other field, true achievement demands sacrifice, discipline, and total commitment.
This is especially true of athletes. What makes an athlete special?
What separates champions from those who fall short? It’s not just raw talent or natural ability. Many people have talent, but only a few have the discipline to reach the very top.
Champions train when others are resting. They sacrifice comfort for a greater goal. They are never satisfied with past victories, after one win, they immediately prepare for the next challenge.
These mental qualities, not just physical skills, are what make athletes legendary.
And here is where our faith connects. The saints, in their own way, are like spiritual champions.
They were not necessarily the most innocent, the most gifted, or the most talented people. Many saints had pasts full of weakness and failure.
But what set them apart was their total commitment; not to a sport, but to Jesus Christ. He became the center of everything they did. Their ears were tuned to His voice, their hearts constantly seeking His will.
While others rested, saints prayed, served, or studied Scripture.
No sacrifice was too great, no act of service beneath them. They would follow Jesus wherever He led, without reservation.
Like elite athletes, saints were never content with what they had already accomplished. The moment they finished one work of mercy, they moved on to the next. They did not live for applause or recognition; their only goal was to please God.
But here is where the path of athletes and saints diverges. Athletes compete for their own glory; saints live for God’s glory. Athletes trust in their own strength; saints rely on God’s power.
Athletes seek medals, trophies, and contracts; saints seek the Kingdom of Heaven. Athletes are often motivated by pride; saints are motivated by love – love of God and love of neighbor.
Jesus is very clear with us: the path to Heaven is not wide or easy. It is narrow, steep, and requires sacrifice. No one drifts into Heaven by accident. It requires focus, discipline, and determination. We cannot simply settle for avoiding evil, we must actively pursue good. Without commitment, we will not pass through the narrow gate.
But here is the good news: we are not running this race alone.
We have a great “team” of saints who have gone before us, cheering us on. We have the Church to guide us and the sacraments to strengthen us. Above all, we have Jesus, who walks with us, lifts us when we fall, and leads us back when we stray.
Today’s second reading reminds us that hardships and struggles are a part of life. They are not punishments from God, but moments of training that can make us stronger in faith. Yet, we must be careful: while God may allow trials for our growth, we are never called to place hardships on others. To abandon, exclude, or burden our brothers and sisters is to act against the heart of the Gospel.
True holiness is not only carrying our own crosses with faith, but also helping others carry theirs. When we strive to lighten another’s load, comfort the lonely, include the forgotten, and bring peace to the troubled, we begin to live as saints. In this way, our trials become opportunities for love, and our faith becomes a source of life for the world.
One day, athletes retire and look back at trophies that eventually collect dust. But for those who persevere in faith, the reward is far greater. If, by God’s grace, we pass through that narrow gate, every pain and sacrifice will seem small compared to the joy of God’s presence.
And then, surrounded by the saints who have run the race before us, we will cross the finish line, hear the Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant,” and share forever in the victory of Jesus Christ.
So, let us run the race with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Let us train our hearts in love, accept life’s struggles with courage, and never give up.
For at the finish line, Christ Himself will crown us; not with a medal that fades, but with eternal life that never ends.
