Reflection: The Price of the Prize (February 5, 2012)

The Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
Isaiah 40:21-31; 1 Corinthians 9:16-27; Mark 1:29-39

Every prize has a price. For example, winning the Super Bowl costs an NFL team great amounts of time, energy, and money. Along the way to winning this coveted prize, teams may lose players to injuries, coaches to fans' expectations, and fans to more successful franchises. Whatever the sacrifices may be, when a team finally does win the Lombardi Trophy the players, coaches, and owners all say that it was worth it. And we would agree. But should we?

When we step back at take a look at winning the Super Bowl from a perspective that isn't shaped by our culture's standards it seems rather insignificant. It's winning a game for a title that will be lost, probably in a year's time. The prestige associated with winning this title has no intrinsic value and certainly has no eternal significance. As impressive as the Lombardi Trophy may be, it's just a piece of metal (albeit seven pounds of sterling silver). Looked at in this way, winning the Super Bowl is a foolish pursuit, the achievement of which is poorly rewarded. But we don't look at it that way. We can't divorce the Super Bowl from the context in which it exists. In that context, it is a highly valued prize filled with honor and glory. It is the realization for a few of a dream dreamt by many. It is the desire of the heart of every serious professional football player. It is the prize.

Few of us will ever have anything to do with the pursuit of the Lombardi Trophy, but each of us has been called to seek after a greater prize. On the surface this prize seems insignificant. It doesn't come with the praise of millions of people. There is no great financial reward with it. It doesn't provide great status in this world. There isn't even a trophy to display when you win this prize. On top of all that, it not only requires all of your money, all of your time, and all of your energy, it demands all of you. By every earthly standard and measurement, this prize is highly undesirable. But this prize cannot be measured by earthly standards. Unlike earthly prizes that fade away, this prize will last forever. It is the heavenly prize that has already been won for us by Christ Jesus. This prize is yours now and it cannot be taken away from you if you commit yourself to "run in such a way as to get the prize." Above all, whatever this prize may require of you, the price of this prize has been fully paid by Christ Jesus.

Audio file of the sermon based on this reflection