Belinda Weatherly

Philippians 1:1-9

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus.

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons. Grace to you and peace from God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, thankful for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure he who began a good work will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this about you all because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.  For God is my witness, how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus.  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Reflection:
I’m sure I must have been googling “words of encouragement” when some years ago I found these words in Philippians. I was corresponding with a young friend living in difficult circumstances in another country. As I reminisced about writing this letter, I had this image of Paul writing to the church at Philippi. I imagine him pacing about the room while dictating, coming up with just the right words to express his love for his friends at Philippi. I imagine that he pictures their faces when he writes that he is “longing for them.”  These words have a quality of blessing in them. Perhaps he considered he might never see them again in this life and wanted to be sure they knew his heart.

These were the perfect words for the Philippians and still are for us. While Paul begins some other letters in a positive tone, none of them carry the same degree of love, encouragement, and joy as this one. The very thought of them brings him joy. He affirms and thanks them for their loyal partnership. He expresses his confidence in the success of their spiritual growth. He is homesick for them. Who could add anything to his prayer for them?

I want to hear these words spoken to me. Imagine being a member of the church at Philippi and waiting anxiously for word from the imprisoned founder of your faith community. You gather quickly because word has spread that a letter from Paul has been received. Now, dear reader, indulge me for a moment. Something different happens when we say the words aloud with our own voice and hear them with our own ears. Go back and read the passage aloud just as if Paul were writing these words to you. 

The people Paul addresses in Philippi are, in a sense, long gone, but his words are not. We are the church now, and these words belong to us: the word of God for us the people of God. The Philippians who heard these words with joy two thousand years ago are now part of the cloud of witnesses cheering us on as one day we will join them in cheering for the future church.

It is easy to focus on our failings and forget we are a work in progress. My spiritual walk is often clumsy and I fall into potholes. But, “He who began a good work in us will bring it to completion”. What am I to do with this sense that I have been touched across the centuries by Paul’s love and affirmation other than to pass it on? So don’t be surprised if I walk up to you in one of the church corridors and tell you that thinking of you brings me joy. It will be true. 

Prayer:
Dear Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Thank you for the words of Paul preserved through the centuries. Help me to feel that love and to share the same kind of joyful, exuberant, extravagant love with those around me.