Spring is here and we're dusting off our running, hiking or walking shoes to get back in shape after the long winter. If you're like me, those months have added five pounds to the scale! It's a good idea to keep our bodies physically in shape, but what about our endurance to run our spiritual race?
Did you know running was very popular in the Bible? Joseph was the first runner. Working his way up the ladder, he became the personal attendant to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh. Having authority over Potiphar's house, Joseph took care of everything and was very successful at his job. Unfortunately, Potiphar's wife was his adversary. While her husband was out on business, she had devious plans for her servant.
Genesis 39:11-15 says, "One such day, when Joseph came into the house to do his work, and none of the household servants were then in the house, she laid hold of him by his cloak, saying, 'Lie with me!' But leaving the cloak in her hand, he escaped and ran outside. When she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand as he escaped outside, she cried out to her household servants and told them, 'Look! My husband has brought us a Hebrew man to mock us! He came in here to lie with me, but I cried out loudly. When he heard me scream, he left his cloak beside me and escaped and ran outside.'" To avoid temptation, Joseph ran! Joseph was in good standing with God but ended up in jail. You'll have to read the rest of the story to find out what happened.
There are times when running is not approved by God. Proverbs 6:16-19 says, "There are six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet that are quick to run to evil, the false witness who utters lies, and the one who sows discord among kindred." And Isaiah 59:7-8 says, "Their feet run to evil, and they hasten to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of wickedness, violence and destruction are on their highways. The way of peace they know not, and there is no justice on their paths; their roads they have made crooked, no one who walks in them knows peace."
In the New Testament, we read about the women who found the tomb empty after the Resurrection: "On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, 'They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put Him.' So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in" (John 20:1-5).
When we go to Mass, do we have the same urgency as Mary, John or Peter who was winded from the run, desiring to see Jesus? Are we participating, or just going through the routine? When it comes to serving the Lord, do we run to Him or run away when we are called to provide for God's people? When we are capable of teaching or evangelizing, do we hide our light under a bushel? Has our Christian walk become more like an occasional stroll, or are we energetically doing the will of God?
To run a marathon, one must train the body and the mind. Our spiritual race also requires time and preparation. A healthy soul requires a daily workout by reading, studying, praying, meditating and serving using our God-given gifts.
Our spiritual race can have obstacles – hills and valleys, circumstances that test our faith. There are times when we can trip over our own feet of complacency, disbelief, sin or spiritual laziness. Instead of focusing on Christ crucified, we are distracted by our own images of what we want.
Sometimes we are led astray by others. St. Paul questioned the Galatians. "You were running well; who hindered you from following (the) truth? That enticement does not come from the One who called you. A little yeast leavens the whole batch of dough" (Gal 5:7-9).
What can keep us on the right spiritual track? Scripture tells us: "So turn from youthful desires and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord with purity of heart" (2 Timothy 2:22).
Most importantly, we must sincerely seek to receive Christ in the Eucharist – the consecrated Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Savior – which is our living bread come down from heaven, to fortify us on our journey through this desert.
Finally, we should remember the words of Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before Him He endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken His seat at the right of the throne of God."
Barbara Case Speers is a writer who lives in Hickory.
According to Church law, those engaged in sacred disciplines (theology, philosophy, canon law, Church history) have the freedom of inquiry and expressing their opinion on matters in which they have expertise, while observing submission to the magisterium (the pope and the bishops) the teaching authority of the Catholic Church (Canon 218).
The Second Vatican Council clearly established the principle of academic freedom of research and expression. Equally, it pointed out the limitations of that freedom ("Gravissimam educationis," 1-2). This freedom is for those clerics or laity who are in the field of sacred study. Expression must be expressed prudently whether in writing, conferences and such, or in teaching. Above all, it is a freedom which may be exercised only with due submission to the magisterium of the Church (Canons 747-755).
Canon 218 becomes more complicated. This freedom is not an absolute right and is to avoid excessive interpretations. It is restricted to what is just. That which is unjust is never a right.
The Vatican II document "Gaudium et spes" notes the contribution of the secular sciences to Christian formation.
While no one can be forced to accept the Catholic faith against his or her conscience, once baptized or received into the Church, a person cannot choose to accept or reject a specific article of faith as stated in the Profession of Faith.
A qualification of academic freedom requires that a person possess expertise in their field.
Further, this right states that people are to observe "submission" to the Church's magisterium concerning faith or morals declared by the pope or bishops (Canon 752).
Nonetheless, disagreement with a particular teaching may be appropriate in a specific situation, and in fact, may require the duty to inform the Magisterium of difficulties in an irrefutable teaching, in the way it is presented, or how it can or cannot be supported or followed.
Editor's note: This series about the rights and obligations of the Christian faithful, as set forth in canon (Church) law, has been written for the Catholic News Herald by Mercy Sister Jeanne-Margaret McNally, a distinguished authority on canon law, frequent lecturer at universities and dioceses, and a psychologist for the Tribunal of the Diocese of Charlotte and judge in the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami.