This year's Olympics in Athens featured some of the world's finest athletes in search of victory, in the form of gold medals, laurel wreaths, prestige, and bragging rights.  There were disputes over who was "gold-medal best," and who was judged unfairly, from prejudice or a desire for revenge.

Today's first reading stands in contrast to this way of measuring victory.  Paul's claim is that he has made himself a "slave to all" for the sake of the Gospel, so that he might have a share in it.  He knows that he has "no reason to boast," and indeed, when Paul does boast, elsewhere in his writings, he boasts about his weakness (e.g., 2 Cor. 11:30; 12:5).  Like Jesus, Paul knew that God's power and glory are made manifest in weakness:  "…but (the Lord) said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.'  I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong."  (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

As humanity runs the true and ultimate race to the finish line of God's loving embrace, followers of Jesus know that they are running a relay with ONE team, a GLOBAL community, ALL the children of God.  Christians know, like the runners at the Special Olympics, that real winners stop and help the one who has fallen, so that all can cross the finish line together.  If we must compete, then we must run as one team, on behalf of the poor, the outcast, and the despised.  When we forgive our enemies, not retaliate, when we help those in need, and not turn our backs or push them down, God's glory is shown.  When we give what we have for the good of others, not hoarding it or hiding it in our selfishness, love triumphs.  God's power is manifest in human weakness.  The cross is a sign of victory, because suffering and death give way to resurrection!

How difficult it is for us to reject the standard of slavery to selfishness, and embrace the standard of Jesus.  We long for peace and justice in our world, like Paul, like Jesus, but are we ready to make ourselves the slaves of others, as Paul declares in today's first reading?  That does not seem an attractive way of life, does it, i.e., self-imposed slavery in service to others?  Still, this is what Jesus has in mind for his disciples:  "'You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt.  But it shall not be so among you.  Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.'" (Mark 10:42-44)

Jesus is our teacher in how to run with urgency toward union with God and others.  "No disciple is superior to the teacher, but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher." (Luke 6:40)  We are ALL students, learning more and more each day what it means to "love God and neighbor."  We are learning little by little how to refrain from judging others, to make sure we do not fall prey to the slavery that promotes the self above all others.  We are learning to reject that tendency to condemn others, as today's Gospel reading reminds us:  "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me remove that splinter in your eye,' when you do not even notice the wooden beam in your own eye?  You hypocrite!  Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter in your brother's eye." (Luke 6:42)

Today, how can we resolve to race with great urgency toward union with God and others?  How can we embrace the crown of dereliction, our own weaknesses, and the cross of suffering that is a world at war, while still working for the good of others?  How can we make ourselves little and powerless, so that God's glory can triumph in us?  How can we cross the finish line together?