12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
I am sure by now that you have either watched the Olympics or read/heard a report about the Olympics. But nonetheless the Winter Olympics are in full force and most of our community is drawn to pay attention however that looks like. I admire the tenacity of the athletes who have spent so much time and energy investing into just qualifying for the games themselves. How much was spent on diet, exercise and training to become the best they could be at their events? But making the Olympics is just half the goal, they must then apply themselves more so to competing against the best in the world. They must commit, excel and strain to achieve a medal. Attaining the Olympic games is not the goal, but to win gold.
Paul may have never competed in the curling competition, and neither could I, but he did know about the games because in his letter to the Philippians he uses the image of running the race. He understands himself as the athlete competing in the race and all that it takes to attain and reach the finish line. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own. Paul describes how far he has come into the work of his Apostleship, but he has not attained the resurrection of the dead. He might have made the games, but he has not won the gold medal, he must press on to make it his own. He must invest more of himself even to the point of being crucified with Christ to achieve the finish line, the gold medal, the resurrection of the dead.
Look at how far we have come in our calling to merge. We are almost four years in this process and that time has passed quickly. Think of the decisions we have made, the bonds that we have nurtured, and the lessons we have learned. We have come far. But the goal is not just to make the merger complete, the goal lies further on and we must press on. The goal is not just to make the games, but to win gold, the goal is not just to merge, but the goal lies further on. We have invested ourselves in the work set before us, but we must continue the work even after the merger is finished. We must press on to gold.
We would be remiss though if we forget that the only reason we make this our own mission and goal is because Christ has made us his own. Think of how Christ pressed on to find and rescue us, even at the cost of his life in the worst of possible deaths. If this is how he acts towards those he loves and cares for, then how far will you go to press on and make it yours? Think of the sacrifices in spending our time with and for others. Contemplate the offerings of your resources for those in our community in need. Ponder the gifts of your abilities and skills that you could share and put to work for those in want. If Jesus has made this his own mission and purpose, then we can also make this our own. We can go for gold.
What are you pressing forward and straining towards? Do your goals align with Christ’s? The work of this Lenten season may just be that we align our goals increasingly with Christ’s. To strain ahead instead of resting in the glories of the past, to press forward into the unknown future of what Unity is called to be. But make no mistake that these forty days are about not just being grateful for how far we come but also realizing that we have not yet reached the finish line. We must press on; we must strain for the finish line, no matter what the cost to ourselves. This is how Jesus lives and through the work of His Spirit it can become how we live. Let us press on, let us reach for gold, let us reach for Christ and make Him our own. Amen.
AMEN!!!