As we journey through the season of Septuagesima, the Church in her wisdom presents us with two powerful passages for reflection: 1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 10:1–5 and Matthew 20:1–16. These readings remind us of the Christian life as both a race to be run with discipline and a labor undertaken in the vineyard of the Lord. They speak of effort, perseverance, and above all, the mysterious workings of divine grace. Let us turn to the insights of the Church Fathers to deepen our meditation.
Running the Race with Discipline (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5)
In his letter to the Corinthians, St. Paul exhorts us:
“Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
The Apostle likens the Christian life to an athlete striving for victory. The image is striking: in the ancient Greco-Roman world, those competing in the games trained with great rigor, subjecting themselves to strict discipline for a crown of leaves that would soon wither. How much more, then, should we strive for the incorruptible crown of eternal life?
St. John Chrysostom comments on this passage, saying:
“He urges them on by the motive of reward, and he alarms them by setting before them examples of those who fell. For since many are apt to slumber in security, he rouses them by saying, So run that you may obtain.” (Homilies on 1 Corinthians, 23)
The race is not won by mere participation but by perseverance. It is not enough to begin well; one must finish well. St. Paul himself acknowledges that he disciplines his body, lest after preaching to others, he himself should be cast away (1 Cor. 9:27). This is a call to vigilance and asceticism, particularly fitting as we approach the penitential season of Lent.
St. Paul then reminds the Corinthians of their forefathers: the Israelites who were all under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all ate the same spiritual food—yet many were struck down because of their disobedience. The great St. Augustine warns us:
“They all received the same grace, yet not all persevered. Do not presume upon having received baptism or the Eucharist while neglecting holiness. For those who were partakers of these gifts but did not remain faithful perished in the desert.” (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 77)
Thus, these verses call us to a holy fear: it is possible to receive the grace of God and yet fail to reach the Promised Land if we do not remain steadfast in the faith.
The Laborers in the Vineyard: God’s Generosity in Calling Souls (Matt 20:1-16)
The Gospel passage presents us with the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, where the master hires workers at different hours of the day but rewards them all with the same wage. At first glance, this might seem unjust; yet Christ reveals a deeper truth about the kingdom of heaven.
St. Gregory the Great explains:
“The different hours of the day signify the different stages of life at which men are called to labor for God. Some are called from childhood, some from youth, others in old age. Yet all receive the same reward, for the joy of eternal life is equal for all the blessed.” (Homilies on the Gospels, 19)
Here, we see the boundless generosity of God. Whether one has labored from the first hour or the eleventh, the reward of heaven is given not according to the duration of work but according to the divine mercy of the Master. This echoes the words of St. Augustine:
“The thief on the cross came at the last hour, yet he received the same reward as the Apostles. Let no one despair of God’s mercy, but let no one presume upon it either.” (Sermon 87 on the New Testament)
This parable is especially comforting for those who have turned to God later in life. Even if one has wasted many years outside the vineyard, the invitation remains open. But it is also a warning against envy: the first laborers grumble at the Master’s generosity, forgetting that all they have is already a gift. St. John Chrysostom exhorts us:
“Do not say, ‘Why does this one receive more?’ but rather, ‘Why have I not done more?’ For the reward is not lessened by another’s gain, but envy only destroys our own peace.” (Homilies on Matthew, 64)
Living the Message in the Spirit of Septuagesima
As we reflect on these readings in this season of Septuagesima, the Church reminds us that we are both runners in a race and laborers in a vineyard. The life of faith demands discipline, endurance, and humble submission to God’s ways.
- Let us run the race with diligence, not presuming upon grace but striving with all our strength.
- Let us labor in the vineyard with gratitude, avoiding both presumption and envy.
- Let us trust in the Master’s generosity, knowing that He rewards each according to His wisdom.
In this preparatory season leading to Lent, may we take to heart the words of St. Paul:
“So run that you may obtain.” (1 Cor. 9:24)
And may we, whether called early or late, hear the words of the Master at the end of our labors:
“Friend, I do thee no wrong… Take what is thine, and go.” (Matt. 20:13-14)
Thus, whether we have borne the heat of the day or arrived at the eleventh hour, may we enter into the joy of the Lord.
Ad majorem Dei gloriam.