Daily Inspiration

“Brothers and sisters: If I preach the Gospel, this is no reason for me to boast, for an obligation has been imposed on me, and woe to me if I do not preach it! If I do so willingly, I have a recompense, but if unwillingly, then I have been entrusted with a stewardship. What then is my recompense? That, when I preach, I offer the Gospel free of charge so as not to make full use of my right in the Gospel. Although I am free in regard to all, I have made myself a slave to all so as to win over as many as possible. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the Gospel, so that I too may have a share in it. 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. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No, I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.” -1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-27
 
We all have the same obligation to preach the Gospel. If the words of Scripture have indeed penetrated our minds and hearts, we understand that our lives no longer belong to us since we freely give them to Christ.
 
Knowing the Gospel means understanding that there is not just one prize in this race. Instead, every runner who crosses the finish wins the same everlasting crown of the Kingdom. This is why we encourage and help those we pass along the way to cross the finish line even before us so that no soul fails to win the crown prepared for him.
 
However, this is not a win-once-win-forever rule. Like any athlete, the chance for failure lurks at every turn. Only through constant practice and training, do we maintain our fitness to compete and win our crown. 
 
Saint John Chrysostom, pray for us.
 
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Jesus, I trust in you.