Homily: Monday - 31st Week in OT - Humbly regard others as more important

Having concluded our weekday reading of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we’ll read this week, Paul’s short four chapter letter to the Philippians.

Philippi, in northeastern Greece, was a city of some importance.  It was a city in the Roman province of Macedonia. It’s population of about 15,000 people was comprised of five groups: a small group of wealthy Roman elite, the farmers, the merchant class, the poor, and slaves. Most of these people were pagans, and the Christians numbered around 2 or 3 hundred, there was also a small group of Jews.
Reading through this letter, one can tell that Paul has a special place in his heart for the Philippians.  And this makes sense, because according to the book of Acts, Paul established the Church at Philippi.

This letter is neither a treatise on systematic theology, like Romans, nor is it a practical, moral letter answering many specific questions and local problems, like I Corinthians.  It is a pastoral, personal letter in which Paul expresses his love for the Philippians, his confidence in their progress in holiness, and his joy that the Gospel is spreading throughout the world.  And he writes all this, while in prison in Rome where he was awaiting death.

Because of the Holy Day and feasts this week, we won’t get to hear the most famous passage of Philippi, the great Christological hymn in chapter 2, so we’d do well, to read it on our own.

In today’s passage Paul exhorts the Christians, “complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love, united in heart, thinking one thing.”  Do not just look after your own interests, but also for others.

Ironically, in Protestant circles, today, October 31 is known as Reformation Day. A day to which we can trace the many divisions which now afflict the Christian Church. These divisions would no doubt break Paul’s heart, who labored so intensely for church unity. Throughout his letters to the Romans, Galatians, and Ephesians, Paul stresses doctrinal unity as essential, but here, to the Philippians he stresses not just a unity of ideas, but a unity of spirit—a brotherhood among Christians, a deep fraternal love, in which we “do nothing out of selfishness”.

“Humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” he says. Our homes and hearts are to be open to the needs of others.

In this great year of Mercy, Pope Francis has challenged us to do the same; to look to the needs of others, to not be so wrapped up in our own problems, our own pursuits, our own habits, but to break out of that comfort zone, in order to truly see those in need all around us.

Through mercy, through service we come to experience the depths of love in the heart of Christ. The life of a vibrant church is to be embodied in concrete acts of charity, friendship, forgiveness, reconciliation, visiting the sick, offering hospitality, lending a hand to disabled neighbors, doing the work no one else wants to do.

May we be dedicated to this form of unity. For Jesus came not to be served, but to serve. And so must we...for the glory of God and salvation of souls.