St. Paul writes, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace" (Acts 20:24).

Dear Brothers and Sisters of our Lord Jesus Christ,

On Sunday May 2nd,  twenty-two young men and women of our congregation will be confirmed. "Confirmation is a public rite of the Church that is preceded by a period of instruction designed to help baptized Christians identify with the life and mission of the Christian community" (LW Agenda, p. 114). In other words, this is not the end of their learning or of their growth in the Christian faith, but the next step in becoming even more involved in "the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Far from the "Graduation Day" that many wrongly perceive it to be, the Rite of Confirmation marks the start of a second lap of the race that St. Paul so often referred to as an analogy for the Christian life.

The race analogy is very helpful in gaining a right understanding of the place of confirmation in the life of a believer. After all, races are a participatory endeavor both physically and intellectually. This is especially true of the long distance race to which St. Paul refers. A good distance runner needs to know how to run under certain conditions, when to push him or herself, and when to hold back to have enough for the final charge toward the finish line. Long-distance running also requires its participants to be in a regular training regimen.  It is the same for the Christian life.  One of the questions posed during the Rite of Confirmation underscores this point, "Do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the divine Word, to be faithful in the use of God's Word and Sacraments, which are His means of grace, and in faith, word, and action to remain true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit even to death?"

The training regimen for the Christian life includes a regular diet of hearing, reading, and studying God's Word along with eating the Lord's very body and blood.  Such a diet is good for mind, body, and soul.  The training regimen for the Christian life also includes the exercise of one's