Reviewing your Lent so far

'All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share in his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death; that is the way I can take my place in the resurrection of the dead. Not that I have become perfect yet. I am still running, trying to capture the prize for which Christ captured me.'

Philippians 3.10-13

These verses are from the Epistle for Morning Prayer on 23 February – the day after Ash Wednesday. St Paul was writing from prison, more than 20 years after his dramatic experience on the road to Damascus, following which he completely turned his back on his old way of life and devoted his life to Christ as a missionary.

Few of us could hope to give as much or achieve as much in the service of our Lord. And yet St Paul believes that he is far from perfect. He is running a race; and it is a race that will continue until the end of his life. His focus is on the Cross, and the suffering of Jesus, and wishes to join himself with that suffering as best he can.

That we have this reading so soon after Lent has begun is not accidental. It reminds us of what we are called to do as Christians – to strive like St Paul to run the race, keeping in mind the suffering that Christ endured for us. Ash Wednesday was merely the 'starter's gun' for Lent; the race itself continues through until the glory of Easter morning.

Some are no doubt are going strong and considering increasing the pace. Others perhaps have already stumbled and fallen … if they ever made it to the starting line in the first place! St Paul's words remind us of the race that we are called to run … because we are all called, as he was, to endure to the end for the sake of the prize for which Christ captured us.

I pray that you all will have a blessed and joyful Lent.

Levi+