MEDITATION TIPS (No. 275)
— 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time,
October 26, 2025

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8)

　A characteristic feature of Paul’s expression of faith is the use of terms related to “sports,” “competition,” and “battles,” and today’s passage is a classic example. Using the Olympic Games as his model, he likens the oldest sports—wrestling, the marathon, and others—to the battle of faith, and the crown given to the victor to eternal life. Like the judges who decide the outcome of a contest, Paul, facing death, is confident that “the Lord, the righteous Judge” (4:8) will award him the crown of righteousness, eternal life.

　However, many people may think that this is something only Paul could say, and it is absolutely impossible for us. Yet he declares, “not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (4:8). So, what kind of people are the “all who have longed for his appearing”?

　As the saying goes, “How one lives is how one dies; how one dies is how one lived.” Those who lived in complaint and dissatisfaction die in complaint and dissatisfaction, while those who lived in gratitude and joy die in gratitude and joy. Death is more than an inescapable fate; it is an important rite. How beautifully one faces this final act of life profoundly impacts the family left behind.

　A doctor at a hospice who has cared for nearly 2,500 people at the end of their lives stated, “While we speak of a ‘good life,’ this inevitably involves considerable personal subjectivity and cannot be generalized. Yet, I cannot help but feel it ultimately comes down to two things: maintaining a positive attitude and being able to express gratitude to those around you.” Everyone experiences peaks and low points, good times and bad, times of fire and times of ashes in life. To live positively means to always focus on the positive aspects, no matter the circumstances. And the simple expression of gratitude, “thank you,” is the most precious legacy one can leave for the family left behind. The value of this simple word “thank you” needs to be more deeply considered in pastoral care settings and medical institutions. Such a final “thank you” leaves a gentle resonance and memory within the grieving family, allowing them to feel that the life of the one who has passed continues to live on within those left behind.

　“I call those who complete their lives with positivity and gratitude the victors of life,” stated the aforementioned physician. As this doctor suggests, the people Paul describes as “all who have longed for his appearing” is one who completes their life with positivity and gratitude. Through this, the crown of righteousness becomes attainable for anyone.

　“Begin with the end in mind” (Leonardo da Vinci). Life is like a marathon. And the final sprint often begins quite early. No matter what the average lifespan may be, death does not arrive on schedule.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Yutaka Akabae)