Septuagesima, February 17th, 2019

Septuagesima, February 17th, 2019

The Daytona 500, which kicks off the NASCAR racing season, is the premier race in that series.  In other words, the biggest game for the NFL would be the Super Bowl and that is at the end of the season, not the beginning. Same with Major League Baseball, the World Series is at the end of the season.  But with NASCAR, they have their most anticipated race at the very beginning of the season.  From the end of the previous racing season until the running of the Daytona 500, the racing teams are preparing so that they can have the best car possible to race at Daytona.  It is amazing to think of all the dedication and preparation that goes into preparing these race cars.  And everyone on the team has to work together in order to make the effort worthwhile.  The driver, the pit crew, the mechanics, etc.  They all work very hard to stay focused on what they do so that they can win the race.  This is what St. Paul is speaking of in this famous passage from the Ninth Chapter of St. Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians:  "KNOW ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."  (I Corinthians 9:24)  Only one racing team can win the trophy.  Only one team can win the World Series.  Only one team can win the Superbowl.  But as Christians we can all win the prize at the end of our race.  Our prize will be winning the opportunity to go home . . .  our eternal home.  To spend all eternity in the Presence of Our Blessed Saviour.  This is why St. Paul was urging the Christians at Corinth to work hard at winning that prize.  This is why St. Paul is still urging all of us to continually push on forward so that we reach the finish line.  St. Paul clarifies the difference between those who train in order to win a crown that ultimately fades away and faithful, committed Christians:  "Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."  (I Corinthians 9:25) Certainly, the crown that we have the opportunity to gain will be the one given to us by Our Blessed Saviour as He welcomes us home.  Let us look forward to that day.  Let us anticipate that day with great joy.  Let us "train" in this life in order to prepare for the next.  

NOTE:  Today the Church celebrates Septuagesima Sunday.   This begins the three "gesima" Sundays which lead us to the penitential season of Lent.  Septuagesima refers to Seventy Days before Easter.  

St. Margaret Church meets each and every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM.  Come hear the Word of God preached from the King James Version and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer.  Join us as we receive the Precious Body and Blood of Our Blessed Saviour at Communion time.  We worship at the beautiful chapel at Marquette Manor, which is located at 8140 N. Township Line Road on the Northwest side of Indianapolis.