Epistle: Philippians 1:21-30
For to me, living is
Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means
fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed
between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far
better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain
and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I
may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of
Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I
will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with
one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by
your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your
salvation. And this is God’s doing. For he has graciously granted you the
privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well—since
you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still
have.
Reflections: Our
long reflection on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans has drawn to a close, and we
begin our readings from Philippians. Paul writes from prison, but he is not
concerned about his own welfare—whether he will live or die—but about the
welfare of the Christian community. At the time, it was under attack by critics
who claimed that their authority exceeded that of Paul, and who condemned the
community’s faith as faulty and invalid.
Paul’s greatest desire—in life or death—is Christ.
For him, death in Christ would mean an end of suffering. On the other hand, his
suffering has become a means of ministry to the world and to the community at
Philippi. And the community’s current suffering is apart from his own; in
Christ they are united. Not that it is a privilege to suffer, but that is a
privilege to suffer for Christ. To suffer
for Christ is to suffer in Christ—united
with Christ in and with the Community of Saints. Let us take heart when we feel
most alone.
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