The Real 12th Man
August 13, 2025
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood (Hebrews 12:1-4).
In just a few weeks the college football season will kick off. It’s a wonderful time of year for millions of men and women across the country. In many places, more than 100,000 people will gather to watch their alma mater, or maybe just a favorite team for whatever reason.
No, that’s not right. They don’t gather to watch. They gather to do all they can to influence the outcome of the game.
There’s a reason why teams want to play their big games at home. Tens of thousands of cheering fans, often whipped up into a frenzy by anything from cheer leaders to yell leaders, somehow inspire and perhaps even enable highly skilled athletes to do things that they could never do otherwise. Accordingly, the home crowd is often referred to as “the 12th man” in football.
This imagery has long impacted how I read and pray with the passage we will hear this Sunday from Hebrews. The chapter immediately preceding this is often referred to as “the hall of faith.” It is filled with numerous examples of great men and women from the Old Testament. But they’re not just presented as examples. Hebrews is clearly drawing on athletic imagery. And we who are alive, living as disciples of Jesus, are “running the race” now just as they once ran the race before us. The author of the letter implies that these great heroes of the faith, now with the Lord, are surrounding us much like fans in a stadium. And just like fans don’t go to a game merely to watch the people on the field compete, the saints in heaven aren’t just watching us. They’re cheering for us. They’re interceding for us. They’re praying to our Captain and King, Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith, that we will “win” the game of life. They’re praying that we will grow in faith, in charity and in hope. They’re praying that we will do in our day what they did in theirs – speak and live in such a way that those around us come to know the One who has rescued us from slavery to Sin and Death, and put our gifts at His disposal so as to transform every dimension of life as best we can and try to bring it into conformity with how God created it to be.
In a striking passage in 2 Kings 6, Elijah and his servant find themselves in a battle. They appear to be severely outnumbered and so the servant begins to panic and be afraid. But then Elijah prays that his servants eyes will be opened to see the vast areas of angels and others who are surrounding them, and lo and behold his fear turns into trust and confidence. Let us ask the Lord this week to help us better understand the reality that is the communion of saints. Let us ask Him to open our eyes to see the “great cloud of witnesses” that is cheering us on. And let us ask their powerful intercession to run well the race that is set before us.
ACTS XXIX Prayer Intentions
AUGUST 2025
For Pope Leo XIV and all his intentions.
For all our efforts with Lorraine Cross Media, that all God is inviting us to create and offer will bear great fruit as we seek to bring hope and encouragement to the world and the Church hungry for such things.
For wisdom, courage and protection upon Fr. John Riccardo and the ACTS XXIX missionaries, as we lean into an exciting fall with many opportunities to pour into clergy and lay leaders.
For our Board of Directors, our Episcopal Advisory Council, and our faithful partners, that God would continue to reveal Himself ever more deeply to them as they seek to build for His Kingdom in their lives and vocations.