22 April 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
Open in the Daily Word appAlso: Syro-Malabar Rite · Latin Rite · മലയാളം
“let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith” Hebrews 12:1–2
Three and a half weeks after Qyomtho, the joy of Easter has to learn to walk. The first rush of the feast is over; ordinary days have come back, with work, exams, illness and bills. The Letter to the Hebrews speaks to exactly this moment. It has just finished its long roll-call of the faithful of old, Abel and Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Rahab and the prophets, and now it turns to us: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.” The picture is a stadium. The runners are on the track, and the stands are full of those who have already finished. St John Chrysostom pictures the saints as spectators who once ran the same course and now cheer us on, so that we may not be ashamed to slacken before such a crowd (Homilies on Hebrews 28, in substance). In the Holy Qurbono our Church names them every time: the Mother of God, the prophets and apostles, the martyrs and confessors, the holy fathers and all the faithful departed. We never run alone.
But the runner does not keep looking at the stands. Hebrews tells us where to fix our eyes: “looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus is the pioneer, the one who has already run the whole course, through the Cross and the tomb, and has broken the tape on Easter morning. He is also the perfecter: he will bring our faltering faith to its finish. “Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.” The Gospel takes up the same danger of losing heart. “Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart.” A widow, with no money, no husband and no influence, keeps coming to a judge “who neither feared God nor had respect for people,” saying, “Grant me justice against my opponent.” In the end he gives in, only to be rid of her. Then the Lord draws the lesson from the lesser to the greater: if even this judge yields, “will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night?” God is not the unjust judge; he is the Father. The point of the parable is not that we must wear God down, but that we must not let ourselves be worn down. St Augustine wrote to the widow Proba that to pray always is to keep desire for God alive in the heart without ceasing, and that our set times of prayer rekindle that desire when it cools (Letter 130, in substance).
Our Church gives us a rhythm for this persevering prayer: the seven times of prayer of the Shehimo, from the Evening prayer through the night to the Ninth Hour, so that the whole day is carried to God. Few families can pray all seven, but every family can keep two: the evening prayer together before supper and a short prayer on waking. Jesus ends the parable with a question that is meant for each of us: “And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Faith is found in people who keep running and keep asking. If there is a prayer you stopped making because nothing seemed to happen, a child far from the Church, a marriage under strain, a healing not yet given, take it up again today. Bring it to the Holy Qurbono, where the risen Lord who finished the race gives himself as food for runners who are tired. And remember the cloud of witnesses: ask one saint you love to run beside you this week.
Theme: “Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus.”
On Thursday of the third week after Qyomtho: the cloud of witnesses, the eyes fixed on Jesus, and the prayer that does not lose heart.
“but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24
Apply: Choose one saint to be your companion this week and ask for his or her prayers each morning.
“Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.” Psalm 34:5
“forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14
Apply: Spend five quiet minutes before a crucifix or an icon of the Resurrection and simply look.
“Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he will hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Apply: Keep the evening prayer as a family every day until Sunday, and add the one intention you had dropped.
The saints have finished the race and cheer us on; Jesus has run it first and waits at its end.
Persevering prayer is the breath of the runner: the Father never tires of hearing it.
Take-home resolution: Fix your eyes on Jesus, take up again the prayer you dropped, and do not lose heart.
Dear friends, Christ is risen! The Letter to the Hebrews pictures a great stadium. We are on the track, and the stands are full: since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1).
Where do we look while we run? Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). He has already finished the course; on Easter morning he broke through the tape of death. Consider him, says Hebrews, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 12:3).
In the Gospel Jesus tells a parable about our need to pray always and not to lose heart (Luke 18:1). A poor widow keeps coming to a judge who fears neither God nor people, until he gives her justice just to be rid of her. If even he gives in, will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? (Luke 18:7). Our God is not that judge. He is our Father.
Jesus ends with a question: when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? (Luke 18:8). Let us answer it with our lives. Take up again the prayer you dropped. Keep the evening prayer at home. Come to the Holy Qurbono for strength, and run with the saints. Amen.
Children, Christ is risen! Have you ever run in a race at school sports day? When you are tired, the people cheering help you keep going. The Bible says the saints in heaven are like a big crowd cheering for us. And Jesus is at the finish line! Jesus also told a story about a lady who kept asking and asking until she got help. He wants us to keep praying and never give up. What will you keep praying for this week?
Lord Jesus Christ, pioneer and perfecter of our faith, for the joy set before you you endured the Cross and now you are seated at the right hand of the Father. Keep our eyes fixed on you. Surrounded by the cloud of witnesses, by your holy Mother and all the saints, help us to lay aside every weight and the sin that clings to us, and to run with perseverance. Teach us to pray always and not to lose heart, trusting that the Father hears the cry of his children day and night. When you come, may you find faith in us. You live and reign for ever. Amen.