Today's meditation: I fought the good fight

Paul stayed in prison as if he were in heaven and received beatings and injuries more willingly than those who receive the prize in the competitions: he loved the pains no less than the prizes, because he estimated the same pains as rewards; therefore he also called them a divine grace. But be careful in what sense he said it. Of course it was a reward to be loose from the body and to be with Christ (cf. Phil 1,23:XNUMX), while remaining in the body was a constant struggle; however, for Christ's sake, he postponed the prize to be able to fight: which he considered even more necessary.
Being separated from Christ was struggle and pain for him, indeed much more than struggle and pain. Being with Christ was the only reward above all else. For love of Christ, Paul preferred the first thing to the second.
Certainly here some might argue that Paul believed all these realities to be gentle for the love of Christ. Of course, I too admit this, because those things that for us are sources of sadness, for him were instead a source of great pleasure. But why do I remember the dangers and the troubles? For he was in great affliction and for this reason he said: "Who is weak, that I also am not?" Who gets a scandal that I don't care? " (2 Cor 11,29:XNUMX).
Now, please, we not only admire, but also imitate this magnificent example of virtue. Only in this way, in fact, will we be able to participate in its triumphs.
If anyone is surprised because we talked like that, that anyone who has the merits of Paul will also have the same rewards, he can listen to the same
Apostle who says: «I fought the good fight, I finished my race, I kept the faith. Now I have only the crown of justice that the Lord, just judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all those who await his manifestation with love "(2 Tim 4,7-8). You can clearly see how he calls everyone to participate in the same glory.
Now, since the same crown of glory is presented to all, let us all try to become worthy of those goods that have been promised.
We must also not consider in him only the greatness and sublimity of the virtues and the strong and decisive temper of his soul, for which he deserved to reach such a great glory, but also the commonality of nature, for which he is like us in all. In this way, even very difficult things will seem easy and light to us, and, in this short period of time, we will wear that incorruptible and immortal crown, by grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom the glory and power belongs now and always, in centuries of centuries. Amen.