Race to Heaven

"Every athlete exercises discipline in every way. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one." (1 Corinthians 9:25)

In high school, I was a dedicated runner. My plan was to use Cross Country and Track and Field, along with my academics, to earn scholarships for college. Because I was competing with a lot of other runners, discipline was something I learned early on. Mile after mile in cross country and lap after lap in Track and Field, I spent myself in order to lower my time during races.

However, the Lord had other plans for me. I left my commitment to running once I started discerning the Priesthood, and now I am in seminary. But my running isn’t over yet. My race is now a different one. As a seminarian, my challenge, that of living out the Gospel, is far greater in terms of difficulty. This new challenge, however, is far more fulfilling than some scholarship-winning competition. Shaving every morning and arriving on time to Seminary events don’t compare to the physical difficulty of running. But the principle of discipline remains the same. If I want to reach Heaven, work needs to be done.

When Our Lord asked me to follow Him, He offered me an opportunity to win the imperishable crown that Saint Paul writes about in his letter to the Corinthians. In seminary, I am learning that the opportunity is really a life of communion and friendship with God. This is the work that needs to be done; constantly learning that this new life is not a life full of rules which tell me how to systematically live but one in which I open my heart to God's will in every circumstance of life. The 10 Commandments and the Catechism are helpful, but they ultimately direct me towards a relationship with God. This relationship will be fully revealed in Heaven, but the “running” is done on earth.

The opportunity I was offered is also offered to you. Not in the same vocation, of course. But just as in Track and Field there are various athletes for various events, so Our Lord calls each one of us in a different manner, but all running for one team. The race is one of listening to what Our Lord says to us on an individual level and acting upon it. He will tell us how to train (and win)! The more we act like Christ in our work, study, chores, or even in our conversations, the greater our relationship with God will become. 

But the other element of this race is that of faith. All other relationships have some element of faith associated with them: dog with owner, child with parent, spouse with spouse, friend and friend, etc. It is the same with us and God. Our Lord usually does not speak to us like you and I would (audibly). He speaks to us in silence, in prayer, and through other people. Our faith is what tells us that God is present, even though we can’t see Him. Our faith is also what tells us that the trials that come with living in a relationship with Him will mean something. He is there to advise and to guide us as we learn to trust Him in our day to day trials. The goal of any runner is to do all they can to become a better athlete. They trust that their coaches will lead them to that goal. For the Christian, the goal should be developing love for God. The saint showed us that trusting in God will win us an imperishable crown in Heaven. Through our sufferings, God will form our hearts so that we can receive the greatest prize: life with Him.

Mr. Miranda is a College II seminarian for the Diocese of Wilmington.