The Olympics and Hebrews 12:1-2
St. Mark’s Weekly E-blast
We gather, connect, and serve so all may experience the love of Christ.
July 31, 2024
Rev. Lynn Bartlow, Lead Pastor
Are you an Olympic Games fan? I have memories of watching Mary Lou Retton and Greg Louganis compete in the Summer Olympics in the 1980s. After that, my knowledge of the games are pretty minimal. We didn’t even watch the opening ceremonies this year, although I’ve seen some highlights. Last night, I watched some of the highlights from the events so far. 20 different clips of different moments in basketball, rugby, field hockey, and even gymnastics. The level of skill and perfection is pretty amazing… something I can admire but have never attained in any sport in my life!!
Whether or not you watch the Olympics, I think that you might find inspiration in the story of one athlete who is standing out this week for his place on the Men’s Gymnastics Team. Stephen Nedoroscik, a 25-year-old from Massachusetts, helped bring a bronze medal to the US team, the first team Team USA medaled in Men’s Gymnastics in over a decade. Stephen’s role on the team was the pommel horse, and it was his only event of the night. That’s his specialty. That’s what he trains for. That’s what he excels at. One article said this,
He knew, even eight years ago, that he probably did not have the talent to make it as an all-around gymnast at the collegiate level, let alone at the Olympic level. But in pommel horse, he realized, he might have a chance. He might be able to make it.
Stephen focused on one thing, and did it well. He trained, he focused, he delivered. The team won bronze thanks to his routine, the last one in the competition. (see a more complete article here: LINK )
In the book of Hebrews, the author invites the reader to focus on Jesus.
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, looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of 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.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Other translations admonish us to “fix our eyes on Jesus.” Like Stephen, we are to have one focus, one specialty, one thing to excel at. That one thing is Jesus, who runs before us in the race we call life.
I’m not tuning in to all the Olympic festivities, and in the end, I don’t really care who wins the most medals. But I will fix my own eyes on Jesus, who leads me in a race I want to finish. I pray that I might run with perseverance, experience the joy of a life with God, and win the prize of eternal life. Won’t you join me in this race?
See you soon,
Pastor Lynn