January 27, 2022

You’ve seen the 26.2 bumper stickers advertising the driver’s marathonic accomplishment. I saw another version that I really liked on a minivan yesterday: 0.0. The first is the law and the second is the gospel! 

Reminds me of Paul in Philippians. “But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” (Philippians 3:7-9)

Christ has run the race for us with the cross and resurrection as the finish line. We do 0.0 to receive His 26.2.

“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.” (Second Sunday after Epiphany – BCP)