FROM THE ARCHBISHOP: Hope in the Lord: Walk and never tire
On Sunday 12 April, I thought about Archbishop Michael (Mike) Byrnes with whom I lived in the Casa Santa Maria in Rome about twenty-four years ago. Mike was then a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit and we were both writing doctoral dissertations. His was in the field of Biblical Theology.
Mike was a year younger than me and he worked as an industrial chemist before studying for the priesthood at Detroit’s Sacred Heart Seminary. He was a strong man physically and pounded the pavement every day. He ran in over a dozen marathons, and we became friends after I went down to Piazza Venezia to cheer him on as he rounded the wedding cake in the Rome marathon.
As I say, I thought about him on Sunday as I participated in the 5km walk of the Hobart marathon. I picture him scoffing at my measly effort. He would be far more appreciative of the endurance of Fr Leo (Bridgewater) and Vincent Parr of the Church Office who both ran the full 42.2km marathon. Congratulations to them both on a mighty result!
Archbishop Mike Byrnes died on 30 May last year at the age of sixty-six, having retired from the position of Archbishop of Agaña, Guam, in the Pacific Ocean after only four years. Alzheimer’s disease cruelly cut short the life of a brilliant teacher and wonderful pastor—it stopped the runner in his tracks. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.
In this Easter season running is very much part of the story and indeed central to much of the biblical text.
Notice that on Easter morning, having found the stone rolled away from the tomb, Mary of Magdala, “came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved” (John 20:2).
And what did those two do? “They ran together, but the other disciple running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first, but did not go in” (John 20:4).
The unnamed author of the letter to the Hebrews sees the Christian life not as a sprint but a bit like the Hobart marathon:
With so many witnesses in a great cloud on every side of us, we too, then, should throw off everything that hinders us, especially the sin that clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started. Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith… (Heb 12:1-2).
Repeatedly, St Paul urges the early churches using the image of running to depict the Christian life:
All the runners at the stadium are trying to win … you must run in the same way, meaning to win. …they do this just to win a wreath that will wither away, but we do it for a wreath that will never wither. (1Cor 9:24-25)
Nearing the end of his life, St Paul wrote to his protégé Timothy and again used the image of running:
As for me, my life is already being poured out as a libation, … I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me. (2 Tim 4: 6-8)
The image of running is to be seen in the Gospel stories as crowds run to Jesus, and Zaccheus runs ahead to climb a Sycamore tree to catch a glimpse of him. Whilst in the Gospel of Mark a man runs to Lord seeking the key to eternal life.
My meagre walking in the Hobart marathon may have Archbishop Mike Byrnes looking down from heaven in disgust. But I take comfort from the words of the prophet: “Those who hope in the Lord renew their strength; they put out wings like eagles. They run and do not grow weary, walk and never tire.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Whether you run or walk—hope in the Lord!
Easter blessings,
Archbishop Tony Ireland
Archbishop of Hobart