Septuagesima - 14 Feb 1954 / 10 Feb 1963

We have had four Sundays in Epiphany this year. There is provision in our Prayer Book for six, but we rarely have six or even five. The Sundays between the Epiphany season and Lent are the three Sundays of preparation for Lent. They are the Septuagesima, Sexagesima and the Quinquagesima. The Collect, Epistle and Gospel for each Sunday are all chosen to help us to concentrate our thoughts on a particular subject. In these three preparation Sundays before Lent, the Church instructs us on the necessity of self-discipline, its possible dangers, and its most fruitful motive.

The subject of this Sunday is self-discipline. The possible dangers of concentrating our thoughts on self-discipline is that we might think it possible for us to attain salvation by our own efforts, and so we are warned in our lessons next Sunday against trusting in anything that we do. The lesson for that Sunday is humility. Then on the 3 rd Sunday, Quinquagesima, we are told that the motive of self-discipline should be love. Let us remember these three Sundays by the by the subjects on which we are called upon to meditate: 1) Self-discipline 2) Humility 3) Love

Discipline is the subject of our lessons today. The Epistle brings before us the absolute necessity of sustained and concentrated effort in the Christian life in two areas: The Christian life is a race. The main idea of the race is its length, for it lasts as long as life. It needs, therefore, determination and fixity of purpose, that we run not uncertainly – by fits and starts. This race is not to the swift, but to the enduring, and demands in the runner the same qualities possessed by the winners of all long races – a self-denial of every indulgence that might lessen the chance of victory, a wise and steady calmness, and a steady perseverance to the end. Let the spiritual runner learn from the bodily runner to run wisely, not wildly, not certain of victory, but making victory certain.

The Christian is not only a racer, a man who runs a race, but he is also a wrestler or fighter. The Christian’s race is a pursuit of holiness, so his wrestling is for the conquest of evil. In a race what is wanted is sustained effort over a long period. In wrestling a man must be able to stand the severity of the struggle. He must be able to fight desperately with all his might. Let the spiritual wrestler learn his lesson from the bodily wrestler, and not shrink from the stress of conflict; for no bodily wrestling is like this wrestling for severity.

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I; not as one that beateth the air; but I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. [1 Cor 9:26]

(There is another sermon on this subject.)