I recently was on a motorcycle trip in the states of Washington and Idaho. At one point during the Idaho portion, we came to an optional route called “Burnt Knob”. It is a 2 mile section that goes from 7,000 feet in elevation to 9.000 feet. So, fairly steep and strewn with rocks of various sizes. At the top is a lookout tower and what has been reported as an awesome view of the surrounding mountains. I sat at the bottom with my fellow riders trying to decide whether to tackle it. Much hesitancy ensued. Finally, throwing caution to the wind, I twisted the throttle and headed up. Didn’t take long before I realized why this was called an expert section. It was a struggle to keep up momentum over many of the boulders while the rear tire grasped for traction on the loose, rocky soil. As I got to within about 100 yards of the top, I suddenly experienced sharp pain in my left foot, the bike came to a stop and I fell over. I had gotten my foot literally trapped between a rock and a hard place…between a rock sticking out of the cliff wall and the foot peg my boot rested on. I later discovered that I had dislocated my middle toe. It took about 30 minutes for me to lift the 450 lbs motorcycle and remount. I was still looking to make it to that lookout tower. I managed to cover the remaining 100 yards and was rewarded with one of the most outstanding views of God’s handiwork that I have ever witnessed.
I am a finisher. Perhaps to a fault. Typically when I start something I don’t let go until it is done. Sometimes, even when I know I am going in the wrong direction. Some call me obsessed. I call me…focused.
But maybe a better word is persevering. What is perseverance? Webster says it is:
“Persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”
In today’s Gospel we hear the very familiar story of the sower (God) and the seed (His word). Seed dispersed on a path is scooped up by the devil before it has time to grow. Seed sown on rock takes quick root but has insufficient roots so that they fall away with temptation. Seed sown in amongst thorns are choked off from the word amongst the anxieties, riches and pleasures of life. But seed sown on rich soil, embracing the word, bears fruit…THROUGH PERSEVERANCE.
Jesus never told us that we would be without suffering. On the contrary, He warned His disciples that they will see even greater suffering BECAUSE of Him. And they did. All but John suffering martyrdom. And before their deaths they experienced ridicule, isolation from their communities, hunger and torture. Why? Why did they put up with all of this? They could easily have quit and abandoned all hope in God. And many did. But those remaining faithful, trusted in God and kept their vision on Him.
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:3-5)
My wife loves to garden. Tomatoes, peppers, basil, cucumbers…you name it. She even harvests something called purslane. It is essentially a weed that an neighbor, who is from Beijing, told her that could be eaten. And we have been…yum? Elise plants into very good soil in our garden to increase the likelihood of growth. But she does not just plant, walk away and hope for the best. She gets down on her knees and pulls weeds. She waters. She fertilizes. She does what she needs to in order to ensure success. It is a lot of hard work, through the hot days of summer. Why? Because she knows that what will be waiting for her in the late summer/early fall will be ripe, sweet tomatoes (love grabbing one off the vine while mowing the lawn) and spicy peppers. But she needs to suffer and persevere through the heat to build character in the hope of the rewards of the earth, tasty vegetables, to come.
And if we put this kind of effort into things of the earth, what effort should we invest to win the biggest prize of all…life eternal with our Creator. In the first reading from 1st Corinthians Paul points out to the disciples in Corinth that we live as a natural image of the first man…Adam. But we are meant to forever bear the spiritual image of one who is from above…Christ. And it is the race in this life that we must run, to suffer and persevere to win the eternal crown.
But we also persevere not just for an eternal reward for ourselves. Some of you may know the song by Steve Green, “Find Us Faithful” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSMSaXS2oRk)
Part of the lyrics include:
We’re pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road,
And those who’ve gone before us
Line the way.
Cheering on the faithful,
Encouraging the weary,
Their lives a stirring testament
To god’s sustaining grace.
O may all who come behind us
Find us faithful,
May the fire of our devotion
Light their way.
Yes, we suffer and persevere to win the eternal heavenly prize but we also “run the race not only for the prize”. We act as models and inspiration for the generation that follows us just as we received our faith from those who came before us. We are ONE Church not two churches of the alive and the dead. We struggle and win for ourselves but also for those who follow us.
After I read today’s readings I thought of my childhood parish of Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Jersey City, NJ. How the collection of teachers, nuns, administrators, janitors, parents, etc. all did their part so that we could receive a secular AND a religious education. I am sure it was not easy. Especially considering how “supportive” elementary students can be. But the fruits of their work were the many of us who are faithful today.
So tackle your “Burnt Knob”, plant your garden, or whatever struggle you deem worthy of the reward. But remember to persevere for the ultimate reward. Never give up hope.
