"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in EVERY way. Thus I do not run aimlessly.....No, I drive my body and train it." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
SITUATION EXPLAINED
"I'm basically a good person, I don't kill anybody." "It's not like God's gonna send me to Hell if I miss Church." "I don't believe in organized religion......I talk to God on my own, alone." "I know it's bad for me, but it feels right." "I'm not as strong as you are."
As a Christian who is active in your faith you have probably (like me) heard a lot of the phrases above, right? So, the question is, WHY do we live the way we live.....with the sacraments, and prayer and scripture and tradition and seasons like Lent?
Well, because, they ALL go together, to serve a purpose.
To God, LIFE is NOT about shortcuts.
SOLUTION OFFERED
The truth is, we live in a society of shortcuts, where most people spend all of their time trying to save time. From the products we buy to the decisions we make, we're all trying to make life easier.......losing weight without exercising, speeding, eating unhealthy to save time, cheating on tests or taxes, running from problems, lying...the list goes on.
The example of life as a race that St. Paul gives us today is perfect. The winners of the race WORK harder, train harder and want it more! Everyone wants to get to Heaven. The thing is, most people on Earth want the reward of Heaven at the end of the race, but don't want to "train" or "sweat" to achieve it.
We're VERY fortunate in our Catholic faith to have a Church, founded by Christ, and guided by the Holy Spirit, that helps us through every leg of the race:
-We know the COURSE, and where to run, through the SCRIPTURES.
-We have a COACH and trainers to lead us, through the POPE and the Bishops.
-We have EXAMPLES of those who have run before and provide a good pace, through the SAINTS and martyrs.
-We have the GYM, through our CHURCHES where we can go to train.
-We have the WATER to refresh us, through our Baptism.
-We have the RULES for the race, through the COMMANDMENTS that keep us from taking dangerous shortcuts along the way.
-We have TRAINING PARTNERS, through people in our Church community who hold us accountable...people who sweat along side of us, and encourage us.....some we even train alongside for life, to pick them up when they fall (Marriage).
-We have a WORKOUT DIET, through the EUCHARIST.....the food that sustains us.
-We have GATORADE, through the Holy Spirit, who revitalizes us internally.
-We have a higher HEART RATE, because GOD dwells there.
and MOST IMPORTANTLY we have the GRACE of God, poured out upon us, especially in the SACRAMENTS. Grace is essential for a true athlete.
Grace is not like a steroid, where you see the immediate effects.....Grace is like a vitamin, that affects us in ways we may not see right away, but that keeps us healthy and keeps us strong........it rejuvenates us when we're down, or tired, or ready to quit.
SALVATION GIVEN
"Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win. Every athlete exercises discipline in EVERY way. Thus I do not run aimlessly.....No, I drive my body and train it." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Springstein summed up God's plan pretty well, "....Baby, we were born to RUN."