“Half-Way There…Keep Going!”

Some of you are walkers, and some of you are runners who have raced in half-marathons as well as full marathons and… finished. Congratulations! I was blessed to run the first leg (6.2 miles) of the Detroit Free Press Marathon a few years ago with my seminarian classmates. It was an incredible, almost mystical experience, to watch the sun rise as I and thousands of others jogged over the Ambassador Bridge, which unites the U.S. (from the Detroit side) to Canada (the Windsor, Ontario side). It was an exhilarating feeling, what some have referred to as a “runner’s high” to cross over the bridge and finish the “leg” of the race along with, and more importantly, the accomplishment of our team completing the race.

It’s also an accomplishment for you and I to be done with this “leg” of the Lenten journey. What do I mean? We just eclipsed the half-way point. Now is the time for you and I to take our spiritual pulse. Now is the time to be refreshed not with water but with the sacraments. How have we done thus far? Many of us in our parishes just came off a “spiritual high” from attending the three-day, Come Encounter Christ event that will follow with Pope Francis’ 24 Hours with The Lord initiative tomorrow (Friday), which will include Mass, adoration, confessions, prayerful devotions, and the Liturgy of the Hours.

Have you been faithful and stayed committed to what you planned to give up or what you planned to do this Lent? If yes, then great! Keep going! We all need that encouragement from a coach, from a source of spiritual support, or from someone close to us like a family member, a friend, or a fellow parishioner. If not, maybe you fell. Maybe you fell more than once. Now is the time to get back up on your feet and move forward to renew your Lenten commitment with Jesus and finish the second half strong, because it’s not how you start, but how you finish.

We know the race will be a mental challenge more than a physical challenge but will also be accompanied by a spiritual battle too. So be aware that the arrows of distraction and temptation will fly our way from the hands of the Evil One. What can we do? St. Paul says, “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in every way…” (1 Cor. 9:24-25). May we continue with a confident attitude in Jesus through the exercise of spiritual discipline in reading Scripture and receiving Jesus in the Eucharist, for example, so that we may say, ““I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith” (2 Tm. 4:7). Though I look forward to crossing the finish line with you at Easter, in the meantime, may the remainder of your Lent be blessed, be fruitful, and be victorious. Amen.

In The Strength and Support of Jesus Who Continues to Cheer Us on in Our Spiritual Journey,
– Fr. Jeff

Author: Fr. Jeff Allan

Biography - Fr. Jeff Allan, was ordained a Catholic priest on June 7th, 2014 for the Archdiocese of Detroit (AOD). He graduated from Adrian College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Criminal Justice. After working in the pharmaceutical sales industry for almost three years, he felt called to discern the priesthood. Before being ordained a priest, Fr. Jeff was blessed to receive three degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. They include a Bachelor of Philosophy, Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology (STB), and a Master of Divinity (Theology). His assignments in the U.S. have included serving at multiple parishes in the Archdiocese of Detroit as an associate pastor and currently as a weekend assistant. Fr. Jeff is certified as a hospital chaplain through ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). He has had the opportunity of serving at three Metro-Detroit Area Hospitals since 2017 where he serves in full-time ministry as a Catholic Priest and Hospital Chaplain. View all posts by Fr. Jeff Allan