Phil 1:1-11 Ps 111:1-2, 3-4, 5-6 Lk 14:1-6

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you...because of your partnership for the Gospel from the first day until now.” Phil 1:3,5

Among the most difficult of virtues to foster is fidelity: the choice to hold fast to what is truest and best when offered other options. If we look at our own failings and shortcomings, we can see that our sins are nothing more than a lack of faithfulness to God’s Love. Yet despite our human tendencies against fidelity to the love of God, today we see St. Paul praising the Philippians for their faithfulness in “partnering” in the Gospel. Yet, I can’t help but thinking that their ability to partner could come only from their great faith in the instruction that they received.

I often wonder whether I have faith and resolve enough to persevere in partnering with our Lord in His work of Love among us. Knowing my numerous flaws, I question if I’ll make it through “until the day of Christ Jesus.” In spite of my doubt, I look at the subject of our Gospel today. Although specifically about the Sabbath laws, I see Jesus’ message as one of living out the law for what it was most meant originally: Love. So, I know that if I am faithful to the love which God has shown us, I may hope to be “pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Today is All Hallows Eve. As we prepare to celebrate tomorrow the lives of those who have passed before us into eternal life, I pray that we can remind ourselves that they, though fallen like us, were able to show fidelity until the end to Christ and that if we also remain faithful to his law of Love, we, too, may find ourselves with Him and them in Heaven one day.