Today we heard from the letter of Paul to the Phillippians. The Letter to the Phillippians is unlike some of Paul’s other letters. It is not a very detailed explanation of the faith like the Letter to the Romans. Nor does it deal with addressing the moral problems of a particular community like Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians. Instead, Paul writes a personal, pastoral, intimate letter to the community at Phillipi on the theme of holiness. Holiness. Sanctity.
What does it mean to be holy? To have the life and love of God working within us, motivating us, animating us, purifying our mind, cleansing our heart, broadening that heart in charity, strengthening us in the virtues.
“This is my prayer”: writes St. Paul to the Philippian Christians, “that your love may increase more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
To grow in holiness is to grow in love. And this is a love that is grounded in knowledge and perception of what is of real and lasting value. Paul writes these words while in prison. He has a unique perspective on what is truly of value in life. It’s not a house, it’s not fancy clothes and jewelry; rather it’s being filled, as he says, “with the fruits of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ”.
The fruits of righteousness come from living in right relationship to God through Christ. Charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity
We must be more concerned with filling our lives with these things than filling our bank accounts, or filling our stomachs.
This is my prayer, Paul says, that you may increase in these things. Notice Paul is praying for an entire Christian community. Not just for the bishop and priests, not just for those particularly holy souls, but for all the Christians.
Every Sunday, a Pastor celebrates a Pro Populo Mass, a Mass for the people of the Parish, and the Bishop offers a Mass for the people of the Diocese. Like Paul, they prays that each of us have the sort of union with Christ that bears fruit.
What a beautiful passage to reflect upon as we celebrate tomorrow All Saints Day, those whose lives continue to bear great fruit for the kingdom of God.
May our hearts be fertile soil for the great grace God desires to give us through Word and Sacrament today, that our lives bear fruit in his service for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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