In the School of God (3) On the sports ground

"Having such a great cloud of witnesses around us, rejecting all the burdens and the sin that so easily envelops us, let us run with patience the race before us, our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader of the faith and the one who leads it to fulfillment." Hebrews 12: 1, 2

"Exercise thyself in piety : for physical exercise is of little use, but piety is useful to all things, having the promise of the present life and the life to come." 1 Timothy 4 7, 8

Master knows that every student needs exercise to keep his mind, soul and body in shape, for the Christian life is a race that demands discipline, perseverance and endurance.

On the sports ground where we are today, Master has assembled his students and explains to them the first exercise of the day : a 110 meters hurdles for the boys, a 100 meters hurdles for the girls. He asks them to get rid of anything that might encumber them and put on their sneakers; then he adds : "I wait for you at the end of the track, but without a stopwatch. I am not looking for performance, I especially want everyone to reach the goal. Fix your eyes on me, not on the hedges" (reread the first verse of the day).

In the context of spiritual life, "physical exercise is of little use" (second verse of the day), for if it strengthens the muscles it does not change the heart and its effectiveness is limited in time. On the other hand, piety, this attachment to God in the desire to do what pleases him, is useful to everything : it possesses the promise of life for the present and for the future.

To those whose knees barely bear, the Divine Instructor gives this exercise : "Make straight paths at your feet, so that what is lame does not strike, but rather heal" (Heb.12: 13). When we have a knee, instinctively we avoid movements. Initially of course, but the doctors are well aware, the lack of exercise only aggravates the situation.

In spiritual life, the more we train, the better, because God prepares us for eternity. By practicing piety on the road to holiness, our whole being will be toned and we will be able to continue the race with all. The goal is close !

Source (To pleasing the Lord)