Thursday, December 3, 2015

Advent 2 C - Philippians 1:3-11

Philippians 1:3-11
If the Galatians and the Corinthians were like thorns in Paul’s flesh, then the Philippians were the healing balm for the pain in Paul’s neck. It’s not that the Philippians didn’t have troubles of their own it’s that despite the trials they faced they were more than willing to share Paul’s. That is the way of partnership in the Gospel. Or as Paul will write to the law bound Galatians, bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. Or to the spiritually arrogant Corinthians, you can babble on in whatever language you like but the language of love is the only one that matters. The Philippians understood that from the beginning when they were the only church to support Paul’s efforts in Macedonia. It’s hard to image how their love might overflow more than it already had but that is Paul’s prayer for those who shared his joy and his suffering. Whenever the church ceases to be conversant in the language of love it is in need of a Philippian reformation that the good work begun on the day of our Pentecost might be completed on the day of resurrection. 

No comments:

Post a Comment