13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time C.  June 27, 2010.  Our Lady of Grace 5:15, 9:30.   I Kings 19: 16B, 19-21.   Galatians 5:1, 13-18.  Luke 9: 51-62.

Rabbits are built for speed.  Once a very athletic rabbit was bragging that he could run faster than any of the other animals around.  “No one has even beaten me in a race.” he boasted.  “I challenge anyone here to run in a race with me”

A very old turtle, one of the slowest of all animals, looked up at the rabbit and said, “I accept your challenge.  I will run a race against you.” “That is a joke,” the rabbit said.  “I could dance around you over and over again for the whole race and still win.”

The old turtle said, “Save your boasting for the end of the race – now let the race begin.” The old turtle had a hard time even walking to the starting line. When the starting gun was fired the rabbit took off at top speed and was soon out of sight.  The old turtle started limping along.  To show his scorn for the old turtle the rabbit decided to take a nap by the side of the road.  The old turtle plodded on and on, very slowing and very persistently.  When the rabbit woke up from his nap he saw at once that the old turtle was very close to the finish line.  Even though the rabbit was very fast it was no longer possible for him to catch up with the slow and steady turtle.  After the turtle had won the race he turned to the rabbit and said, “Life is about much more than how fast you can run. Those who are persistent and steady usually win the race.”

Jesus was determined to go to Jerusalem even though he had told his friends that he would suffer there and be put to death.  Still, Jesus put all of his energy into completing and winning the race that he had begun.  When others admired Jesus and wanted to follow him he said to one - Foxes have dens to live in and the birds have nests to sleep in, but because I keep moving toward Jerusalem, I do not have anywhere to rest and lay my head.  Jesus invited another person to follow him, but he said to Jesus, “Lord let me go first to bury my dead father.”   Jesus amazed everyone by saying, “We are on a journey to Jerusalem to show God’s love for the world.  We can not stop now, even for a very good reason.   Let the dead bury their dead.”  A third person asked to go home to say good bye to his family.  Jesus responded, “No one who puts his hand on the plow and turns around to look at what he has left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.” 

At one of the Masses last weekend we congratulated a couple who have been married for 67 years.  Even for the very best of marriages getting to the finish line sometimes seems like it is a very long race   On the day of their wedding the bride and groom say to one another, “I promise to be true to you on good days and bad, in sickness and in health.  I will love you and honor you all the days of my life.”  The secret to a good marriage is slow and steady persistence.  Jesus said “Those who put their hand to the plow and keep looking back are not fit for the kingdom of God.”

Raising a child demands slow and steady persistence in more ways and for more years than most new parents have ever imagined.  If they did they might have second thoughts about having a child.  With God’s help the great vocation of parenthood is lived with slow and steady persistence.

Going to college, becoming a doctor or a lawyer, starting a business, learning a job, all of these things demand persistence.  Those who grow weary and fearful and keep looking back will not win the race. 

We often think that speed wins and the smartest are the most successful.  People with huge disabilities often win the race because of their persistence. 

The great composer Beethoven wrote some of the most beautiful music ever heard – even though he was deaf and couldn’t hear his own music.   He was persistent.

Thomas Edison, the inventor the light bulb, had learning problems.

The great scientist Albert Einstein had a learning disability.

The great author and teacher Helen Keller was both deaf and blind.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt was paralyzed from polio.

The artist Vincent Van Gogh was mentally ill.

When the young prophet Elisha heard God’s call he was out in the fields plowing with twelve huge oxen pulling his plow.  He told the old prophet Elijah that he wanted to go home and to kiss his father and mother good bye.   The old prophet told Elisha to go back – if that is your attitude forget the whole thing.  To show that he was willing to move forward Elisha took the wooden yokes off of the necks of the oxen and made a fire out of the wood.  He then killed the oxen and cooked their flesh on the fire and gave the meat to the people. Having killed his oxen and given away the meat he could no longer look back.   Success always involves moving ahead, no matter how slowly.

Albert Einstein said, “It is not that I am so smart.  I just stay with the problems to be solved longer than most people do.”

 Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.

(Jerusalem My Destiny Rory Cooney:) (#390)

See, I leave the past behind; a new land calls to me.

Here among you now I find a glimpse of what might be.

I have fixed my eyes on your hills, Jerusalem, my Destiny.

Though I cannot see the end for me I cannot turn away.

We have set our hearts for the way; this journey is our destiny.

Let no one walk alone. The journey makes us one.

My Jesus give us the wisdom and the courage to follow him always.  For the grace of perseverance, persistence and faithfulness we give God thanks and praise.