As we enter the liturgical season of Septuagesima, the Church calls us to reflect on the spiritual combat that lies ahead. This pre-Lenten period serves as a preparation for the discipline of Lent, urging us to examine our lives, strengthen our resolve, and renew our commitment to holiness. Today’s readings—1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 10:1-5 and Matthew 20:1-16—present two vivid images: the Christian as an athlete striving for an incorruptible crown and the laborers called to work in the vineyard. Both passages illuminate the themes of effort, grace, and perseverance, offering us profound lessons as we prepare for the Lenten journey.
I. The Christian Life as a Race (1 Cor. 9:24-27; 10:1-5)
St. Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, 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).
Here, the Apostle compares the Christian life to an athlete’s competition. In the Greek games, only one received the prize, but in the spiritual race, all who persevere faithfully will be crowned. However, this requires discipline, mortification, and perseverance.
St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this passage, notes:
“If those who contend in the games abstain from everything, how much more ought we to abstain from what is harmful, that we may win an incorruptible crown?” (Homilies on First Corinthians, Homily 23).
The crown of righteousness (cf. 2 Tim. 4:8) is not given to the lazy or negligent but to those who strive, fast, pray, and subdue their passions. Paul warns that he himself, though an apostle, could be cast away if he fails to discipline his body (1 Cor. 9:27).
This leads into a solemn reminder: the Israelites in the wilderness had divine favors—they were “baptized in Moses” and fed with spiritual food (1 Cor. 10:2-3)—yet many perished in their sins. St. Augustine warns us:
“The Israelites were delivered from Egypt, yet they perished in the desert due to their infidelity. Let us not trust in our privileges, but in our perseverance” (Exposition on Psalm 77).
Thus, we too must beware of presumption. Baptism, sacraments, and religious observance alone do not guarantee salvation; rather, we must strive daily to remain in God’s grace.
II. The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matt. 20:1-16)
In the Gospel, Christ presents the parable of the laborers in the vineyard—some work from the first hour, others enter later, yet all receive the same wage.
This can be perplexing: why does the latecomer receive the same reward as the one who bore the burden of the day? The Church Fathers offer deep insights:
1. The Call to Salvation is Purely Grace
St. Gregory the Great explains:
“The different hours signify the different ages at which souls are called to faith: some from childhood, some in youth, others in adulthood or old age. But the reward—eternal life—is given equally, for the mercy of God is not measured by the length of labor but by the fervor of love.” (Homilies on the Gospels, Book I, Homily 19).
Salvation is not earned by our works alone but is a gift of divine grace. The Lord, in His mercy, calls each soul at different times, but He is just in rewarding all with eternal life.
2. Avoid Envy and Trust in God’s Justice
The early laborers murmur, thinking themselves treated unfairly. St. John Chrysostom warns:
“The first are envious not because they have received less, but because the last have received as much. Such is the nature of envy—it does not seek its own gain, but rejoices in another’s loss.” (Homilies on Matthew, Homily 64).
Do we sometimes envy the mercy God shows to others? Do we resent converts or latecomers to the faith, forgetting that all is grace? The true laborer in Christ’s vineyard does not work for wages but out of love for the Master.
3. The Last Shall Be First
Finally, Christ reminds us:
“So shall the last be first, and the first last” (Matt. 20:16).
St. Jerome interprets this as a warning against spiritual pride:
“Many who begin well end badly; others who come late surpass those who were first. Let none presume, but let all persevere” (Commentary on Matthew 20).
Thus, it is not when we begin but how we finish that determines our reward. Some saints, like St. Paul, converted later in life and surpassed many who had been righteous from youth. What matters is faithful perseverance until the end (Matt. 10:22).
III. A Call to Action: Preparing for Lent
Both readings call us to serious preparation. We are entering a season of spiritual training—a race, a labor, a combat. Let us take practical steps:
- Examine our souls – Are we running the race with zeal, or have we grown sluggish?
- Mortify our passions – Like an athlete, let us fast and discipline the flesh (cf. 1 Cor. 9:27).
- Avoid presumption – Like Israel in the desert, let us not presume on God’s mercy while remaining in sin.
- Trust in God’s grace – Whether we are early or late in our call, let us work in His vineyard with joy, avoiding envy.
- Persevere to the end – The crown is not given at the start, but at the finish line.
St. Augustine gives us this encouragement:
“Run so that you may obtain; labor in the vineyard that you may be rewarded. The Lord calls all at different hours, but let no one be idle, lest he be found fruitless at the end.” (Sermon 87 on the New Testament).
As Septuagesima unfolds, may we take up the challenge of the Gospel, discipline ourselves as true athletes of Christ, and work diligently in the vineyard of the Lord, striving for the eternal reward He has promised.
“So run, that you may obtain!” (1 Cor. 9:24).
- In Christ,
A fellow laborer in the vineyard of the Lord