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April 1, 1998
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Philippians 2: 5-11
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Comforting Letters
When I was in college, I could count on receiving a letter from my Grandmother every Friday. I anticipated those letters all week. I knew that no matter what, come Friday, I could count on Grandma's letter being in the mailbox. Sometimes those letters came at the end of a great week, when everything had gone well, and the letter was merely reinforcement of all the good things in life. Sometimes, however, those letters arrived at the end of a very bad week. At those times, Grandma's letters were a beacon of hope: A reminder that there were people that loved me and kept me close to their hearts. The letters contained news from home, who was sick, who had come to Sunday dinner, what projects Grandma had undertaken that week. They also contained words of encouragement, and always Grandma's love. I have kept those letters, and when I am gone, I hope someone will care enough to continue holding on to them.
If I treasure those letters from my Grandmother, I can only imagine how much the Philippians must have treasured their correspondence with St. Paul. I am quite sure the Philippians had many bad days in their faith journey; days when the road of Christianity was particularly hard to walk. In chapter three, St. Paul warns the Philippians to "look out for the dogs and the evil-workers." How comforting it must have been to receive word that Paul was alive, and sending one of his fellow workers, Epaphroditus, to be among them. Paul's letter is more than a line to let the Philippians know he is alive. St. Paul writes to the Philippians to provide guidance, hope and to express his love.
In chapter two, St. Paul offers advice to the community. He encourages them to remember Christ's humility and sacrifice for the Christian people, and to model that example within their own community. The early church found strength in each other, and also found a refuge in the community. But Paul reminds the Philippians that Christ's humility is central to the Christian life.
Certainly volumes have been written on humility and servanthood. As Christians we know and accept that we should live as servants to others. The question is, do we follow Christ's example in our serving? Is our serving selfless? Is our service performed out of desire and obedience, or is it, at least sometimes, performed out of our own boasting?
I treasure my Grandmother's letters. They have meaning to me, but I doubt if anyone else could appreciate them. I wonder if St. Paul had any idea how enduring his words would be to the Philippians? Surely the Philippians treasure their link with Paul, but could they have known that his advice and admonitions would stand as a timeless reminder of the core Christian belief? I am grateful someone had the foresight to preserve Paul's advice on living in community, serving and loving God and following Christ's example.
Prayer: Lord, make us mindful that the actions of today will shape the future of our community. Help us be conscious of Christ's example, and give us the courage to follow that example in our lives and communities. Thank you for the Bible, and for your enduring love.
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