I like to imagine St. Paul visiting the Isthmian Games when he lived in Corinth. These were the games offered in between the Olympics, which were held at Olympia every four years. This would be exactly like Paul, to find the most populated and central point of every province he visited, to have the largest audience to hear his message.
It’s helpful to recall what we know about first-century Corinth, that bustling Mediterranean port city. Like most cities of similar situation, it was home to the wealthy elite and the desperately poor. Sailors and prostitutes shared the city with prosperous business owners. And amid all this existed Paul’s new community of believers. In this city of such disparity, Paul sought to unite all.
So yes, it’s easy to imagine St. Paul attending the Games, thrilling to the foot races and the chariots. But it’s more likely that, as was his genius, the experience united him to the great mission of his life, which was to bring Christ to the Roman world by connecting the experiences of their lives with the salvation story of Christ.
“Run so as to win,” was his message. When you box with the Enemy, don’t shadowbox. Go for the jugular. Knock out every temptation that threatens to take your joy and your life. Take the athletes as your inspiration. If they can push their bodies to the limit, so must you push on, every day, racing toward the goal of life on high with Christ Jesus.

Kathy McGovern

Kathy McGovern, a former instructor in the Denver Catholic Biblical School, is a writer and teacher in the Denver area. She writes weekly reflections that connect Scripture with life: thestoryandyou.com.