Word to the Wise
Tuesday, September 5, 2023 - Tuesday in the 22th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Thess 5:1-6, 9-11 and Luke 4:31-37]For God did not destine us for wrath, but to gain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live together with him. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up, as indeed you do. [1 Thessalonians]
An expression I have heard a lot in campus ministry is "Keep your eyes on the prize!" St. Paul is clearly urging the Thessalonians to do that. In a culture that was morally "dog eat dog" and "anything goes" that prevailed in Greece at the time, it was difficult to "stay sober and alert" for the second coming of Jesus, which Paul and many Christians thought would occur in their lifetime! We get a hint however at a "long haul" view in the concluding words of today's passage. Life in Christ means not just here and now but in eternity as well. But it can start now. Indeed, that is a very strong message in the Gospel According to John [John 11:25], which was composed years after St. Paul's death (ca. 64 AD).
Christian life, well-lived, can be a foretaste of eternal life. But that "well-lived" part is the challenge because it is done with "the eyes on the prize" which is a complete life in Christ. St. Paul uses the analogy of athletics in 1 Corinthians 9:24-25: 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. They do it to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. But, you can't win if you don't run at all, and you will have a tough time running if you don't have some disciplined training. Christian life now and in eternity are all of one piece. The "now" can be a foretaste of what is to come, but but it means effort and intention with "eyes on the prize." AMEN