From the letter to the HebrewsTe Deum Laudamus! Home
12:1-13
Let us go forth to the struggle with Christ as our leader
Since we are surrounded by this cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every encumbrance of sin which clings to us and persevere in
running the race which lies ahead; let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus,
who inspires and perfects our faith. For the sake of the joy which
lay before him he endured the cross, heedless of its shame. He has
taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Remember how he
endured the opposition of sinners; hence do not grow despondent
or abandon the struggle. In your fight against sin you have not
yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. Moreover, you have
forgotten the encouraging words addressed to you as sons:
“My sons, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
nor lose heart when he reproves you;
For whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
he scourges every son he receives.”
Endure your trials as the discipline of God, who deals with you as
sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? If
you do not know the discipline of sons, you are not sons but bastards.
If we respected our earthly fathers who corrected us, should we
not all the more submit to the Father of spirits, and live? They
disciplined us as seemed right to them, to prepare us for the short
span of mortal life; but God does so for our true profit, that we may
share his holiness.
At the time it is administered, all discipline seems a cause for grief
and not for joy, but later it brings forth the fruit of peace and justice
to those who are trained in its school. So strengthen your drooping
hands and your weak knees. Make straight the paths you walk on,
that your halting limbs may not be dislocated but healed.
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!