Paul writes to the Philippians from jail. The letter shows the great affection that he had for the people there and their faith and unity since the days that he preached Christ Jesus to them. But all is not well now in the sense that some have come to the Philippians and spread a “gospel” that was foreign to Paul’s original preaching/teaching. Today’s reading excoriates those called “judaizers” who insisted that the people return to the Mosaic Law and to circumcision. He refers to them as “enemies of the cross of Christ,” a strong warning to the Philippians of the danger of following them. He encourages the people to “stand firm in the Lord.” What a powerful message for all of us to hear. The famous hymn from Philippians just earlier in the letter focuses on the humility and obedience of Christ Jesus, “Though he was in the form of God . . . he emptied himself . . . becoming obedient to death, even death on the cross.” Clearly that’s the way we are invited to live our lives, and, indeed, the saints throughout history became extraordinary in their imitation of Christ. We look today to celebrate a group of those saints and blessed, Jesuits from the earliest companions of St Ignatius, the founder of the Society of Jesus, to those in our own lifetime who have signalized themselves by their unflinching focus on Christ and living lives modeled on His humility and obedience to God. Like all saints and wonderfully holy women and men throughout the ages, they deserve our respect and attention by the ways that they did “stand firm” in their commitment to Christ. Be with us, dear Lord, as we hear Paul’s words today that invite us to focus our lives on you. Inspire in us the humility and the strength of character that comes from you as we daily “stand firmin the Lord” by taking up our crosses in humble imitation of you. |