This Scripture verse truly is preceded by an example of a whole multitude of witnesses throughout chapter 11. And this chapter ends as follows: “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.”

Then follows the verse which we are going to recite for two weeks. It begins with the words: “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” And then it continues: “…let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” The next verse is a continuation of the previous one: “…looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” And we read further: “…who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (v.2-7)

These statements hold the profound truths about our life; they are meant to be our light, our model. We are indeed surrounded by a great multitude of witnesses. To those of the Old Testament let us add the millions of martyrs after the coming of Christ, as well as the millions of saints who have or have not been publicly canonized. And what are we supposed to do? Lay aside every weight and sin. We create a lot of weight for ourselves by not wanting to let go of various bad habits that hurt us and others, and we only have problems because of them. We need to start striving, little by little, to lay aside this burden, which many times has already taken root in our thoughts and ideas, and they bind us. Apart from this weight, we have to lay aside the sin which, as Scripture says, “so easily ensnares us”. Finally, it is emphasized that we are to run with endurance the race of life that is set before us. Jesus says: “He who endures to the end will be saved.” Running this race, we have to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. But we often allow ourselves to be robbed of our precious time by the mass media, and then we do not even know how we have adopted worldly thinking. As a result, we are unable to count on Jesus in our lives and to approach with a living faith the various life trials that come our way. That is why it is so necessary to find a fixed time for prayer. That is why it is so important to keep the Holy Hour. The Holy Hour is the foundation of the home church.

Download: Reflection on Heb 12:1