I wonder how you would react if you heard that one of the entrants in the recent London Marathon finished six days after he started?
If we’re honest we might wonder what on earth took him so long and be distinctly unimpressed. As you will have guessed there’s more to the story. A police officer has just “run” the race dressed as a gorilla AND moved on his hands and knees rather than his feet. By doing so he has raised £26,000 for a conservation charity. The winner of the marathon got most of the public acclaim, but the police officer has arguably achieved more. The last competitor to finish perhaps achieved the most.
One of the stories Jesus told that caused the religious authorities to get upset with him concerned a landowner who sent some labourers to work for him at the beginning of the day, some in the middle, and some near the end. He paid the ones who came near the end a full day’s pay, so the ones who worked all day expected more. When they too got only a day’s pay they grumbled, but the landowner did not change his mind. He told them that he had given them what they had been promised.
One of the messages from this story is that God’s Kingdom is open to us all and that those who come later will enjoy the same blessings as those who come earlier. The first to cross the finishing line is not necessarily the best. It’s much more about how we run the race. Wherever you think you are in the “race of life” you are welcome at St. Peter’s or any of the local churches. Details of services at St. Peter’s can be found here.
May I also invite you to our Strawberry Tea on June 25th at 106-108 Broadway from 3.00-6.00pm. There will be strawberries, cake, stalls and much more. We will close with a short service at 6.00pm. You are all very welcome.
With my continuing prayers,
Jon Randall (Vicar) 01733 240339; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk
Read this article in the Yaxley Gazette.