Daily Retreat 09/12/08
2008 Sep 12 Fri: Ordinary Weekday/ Holy Name of Mary
1 Cor 9: 16-19. 22b-27/ Ps 83(84): 3. 4. 5-6. 12/ Lk 6: 39-42
From today’s readings: “Every athlete exercises discipline in every way - they do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one!... The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk in sincerity.... No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”
The Imperishable Crown
Most of us can barely even imagine the sacrifice made by Olympic athletes to reach that level of excellence which gives them a shot at the gold. But while the whole world watches these games as they are played, the end soon comes, and both winners and losers return to their home as their moment of glory soon fades forever from the spotlight.
While an Olympic medal is certainly a treasured keepsake, in the end, even that is as ephemeral as the laurel wreaths awarded the winning athletes in Paul’s day. So much time, determination, work, sweat, and money all invested just to compete for various perishable crowns, when Paul reminds us that the imperishable crown (eternal life with God!) is the only one really worth giving all we’ve got!
Think of what it is in your life for which you’ve made the greatest sacrifice and investment of self, whether that be a past dream already reached, or the one you’re chasing after right now. Is it a perishable or imperishable crown? Our faith demands sacrifice - we cannot run aimlessly, or fight as if shadowboxing! Rather, we must run so as to win, driving and training ourselves to focus on the Finish....
1 Cor 9: 16-19. 22b-27/ Ps 83(84): 3. 4. 5-6. 12/ Lk 6: 39-42
From today’s readings: “Every athlete exercises discipline in every way - they do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one!... The LORD withholds no good thing from those who walk in sincerity.... No disciple is superior to the teacher; but when fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.”
The Imperishable Crown
Most of us can barely even imagine the sacrifice made by Olympic athletes to reach that level of excellence which gives them a shot at the gold. But while the whole world watches these games as they are played, the end soon comes, and both winners and losers return to their home as their moment of glory soon fades forever from the spotlight.
While an Olympic medal is certainly a treasured keepsake, in the end, even that is as ephemeral as the laurel wreaths awarded the winning athletes in Paul’s day. So much time, determination, work, sweat, and money all invested just to compete for various perishable crowns, when Paul reminds us that the imperishable crown (eternal life with God!) is the only one really worth giving all we’ve got!
Think of what it is in your life for which you’ve made the greatest sacrifice and investment of self, whether that be a past dream already reached, or the one you’re chasing after right now. Is it a perishable or imperishable crown? Our faith demands sacrifice - we cannot run aimlessly, or fight as if shadowboxing! Rather, we must run so as to win, driving and training ourselves to focus on the Finish....
posted by FrPitstick | 9/10/2008
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