“…stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” – Philippians 4:1

In the first century, St. Paul exhorted his brothers and sisters in Philippi to press on towards the prize of eternal life in Christ; to hold fast to what they had gained, urging them not to be undone by internal squabbling or external pressures. In the 21st century, these same urgings play out in a world beleaguered by a pandemic and fractious politics.

St. Paul encouraged the Philippians to observe and imitate those who live true to Christ’s teachings. Today we might call that being counter-cultural. It does take patience to wait on the Lord, and it’s tempting to grab onto the seemingly quick, simple, righteous solutions vociferously propounded by wannabe dictators. But we are citizens of heaven first, looking to Christ as our savior. Our faith isn’t in earthly power, wealth, or possessions, but only in the power of God.

When COVID first hit, our own Fr. Paul encouraged us to keep in touch with one another, wash our hands, wear masks, stay strong, stay church; we’ll get through this together. That was certainly what I needed to hear at the time. Now those words have become second nature as we continue to live a more active, but still altered life in the time of COVID.

I believe we can wait actively, as it were, by supporting and encouraging one another in our spiritual formation, in our various ministries, small groups, classes, communal worship, and, as St Paul says elsewhere, by praying without ceasing. I can also use whatever time, talent, or treasure I may have to do some good in the larger world in some way. All of this will be transformed by Christ to do God’s work in the world, and this gives me the strength and hope for a better day.

Gracious God, help me to live according to the example of Jesus, staying strong in my walk with Him, trusting only in the power of your grace. Amen.
-Carol Treston

“He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” – Philippians 3:21

Yesterday Sharon and I did our walk down to Bellingham Bay, through Boulevard Park, and the over-water walkway to Taylor Dock. Ascending the dock toward 10th Street, I noticed a woman sitting alone on one of the benches, eyes fixed on the view of sea and islands before her. As we passed, I noticed the vertical lines in her chin; the wrinkles that come with age and was reminded that I’m entering the phase of life she is in. I felt within a sense of the fleeting nature of my life in this realm, and again I had to contemplate how I really feel about this reality.

Paul’s description of “the body of our humiliation” catches my attention. In David Bentley Hart’s translation of this text, he uses the word “abjectness” here. In any case, it means the body in which we experience low estate. Advancing age brings with it a sense of being in a low estate, with the aches and pains and diminishing strength that are characteristic of our latter years. In my own experience of a heart failure diagnosis and subsequent treatment, this has become more personal for me.

This text is full of mystery for me. Paul apparently thought Christ’s return was imminent. Our perspective is necessarily different than his on that score. His description of the transformation of our bodies into the likeness of Christ’s resurrected body is likewise mysterious. After all, Paul never in his writings precisely defines what he means by this glorified body.

As a priest, I’ve had the immense privilege of accompanying many on their path to dying and presiding over their burial services. On each occasion, I’ve drawn on my trust that this mystery of which Paul writes signifies something real, even though it is beyond my ability to comprehend. That trust has enabled me to affirm the church’s message that death is not defeat. The divine energies that showed Christ as risen, that came together to form us in our mother’s womb, are the energies that keep us in the larger life of God beyond all imagining.

I go on trusting, and glad for every day of health and strength I can enjoy.

O God, as my days increase and the horizon of time in this life draws nearer, help me to accept gracefully various weaknesses of the body over which I have no control. Center my heart and fix my mind on my true home, which is your dominion that is both here and in the life to come. Plant my feet on the firm ground of your love, which you bear for all people. Enable my hand to grasp the hand you have extended to us through Jesus your Holy Child, and give me always the desire to desire what he desires. Amen.
-Fr. Jonathan Weldon

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself.” –Philippians 3:20-21

I think one of the best examples of a horrible situation being transformed into something amazing is that of St. Patrick.
Born to Roman parents, he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. His captivity lasted six years, and he escaped after having a dream in which God told him to head for the coast. Some sailors were there and took him back to Britain. After some time had passed, he had a vision in which a man handed him a letter called “The Voice of the Irish”. The man in his vision begged him to come and walk among the Irish once more. Patrick listened, did seminary studies, was ordained, and headed to the land where he once was a slave. He preached in Ireland for 40 years, and he is credited with converting the entire nation, one kingdom at a time. He used everyday things to explain complex theological ideas (example: using a shamrock to explain the Trinity), and the rite he started (Celtic) lasted 200 years until the Synod of Whitby.

Western civilization owes a debt of gratitude to him as some of the monasteries founded by some of his converts became places where many manuscripts from antiquity were copied and preserved as mainland Europe was in a state of flux following the fall of the western half of the Roman Empire. Thomas Cahill wrote a book on the subject (How the Irish Saved Civilization), and I had the blessing to see one of those manuscripts, the Book of Kells, in the library at Trinity College when I was in Ireland 24 years ago. In the case of the Book of Kells, it is an illuminated manuscript, which means that it is also beautifully illustrated and as much of an art piece as it is a book. All of this was possible because of God calling one man who chose to return to the place where he had been a slave and working in the heart of that man to bring the Light of Christ to the people there. Our God is amazing.

Almighty God, you have surrounded us with a great cloud of witnesses: Grant that we, encouraged by the good example of your servant St. Patrick, may persevere in running the race that is set before us, until at last we may with him attain to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, p.250)
-Jen McCabe

“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we eagerly wait for a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” – Philippians 3:20

I attended seminary in Canada. I wanted an experience that was both international and interdenominational in scope. To be completely honest, it was also much more affordable than our American counterparts. I didn’t have the fear or trepidation I might have had if I had gone to seminary in Germany (where I could not speak the language), but I was still very much aware that I was a guest in a foreign land. I drove a beat-up old Datsun automobile that didn’t include metric speed markings on the speedometer, so I had to learn to convert the miles-per-hour (mph) scale to the metric scale used by our northern cousins. Fortunately, I learned quickly that the key figure is “6.” Multiply the kilometers-per-hour (kmph) speed limit by 6, drop the zero, and that’s roughly the mph (e.g. 80 kmph = 6×80 = 480, drop the 0, so 48 (or 50) mph).

St. Paul tells us “our citizenship is in heaven,” and (for me) the good news is that not only do we “eagerly await a savior,” but that we have a Savior who just as eagerly awaits for us. It doesn’t matter what scale is being used, for Jesus IS the scale. We don’t have to do any converting; Jesus is the One who converts US! Isn’t that amazing? And so it is well with my soul.

God, there is so much in life that can throw us for a loop. We strive to do good, to be good, to do right, to be right. Sometimes, though, we know well that we are out of our element; we live in a world that is increasingly foreign. We can fake it ‘til we make it, but I’ll feel so much better when I cross that border and find you are there to receive me, for then it will be truly well with my soul. Amen.
– Fr. Keith Axberg

“But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.” – Philippians 3:20-4:1

Being a Christian is easy. Jesus, the Christ, does all the heavy lifting for us. “He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory by the power that enables him to make all things subject to himself.”

Being a Christian is impossible. I and my ego keep getting in the way! There are so many ways I fall short in being and becoming a faithful follower of my Lord! Will I ever resolve that forgiveness issue that gnaws at me? Will I ever be more tolerant with folks who argue on the Wrong Side? Will I walk the extra mile, turn the other cheek, think of everyone as my neighbor? Will I ever just simply live the Golden Rule?

Sometimes I feel like an old car that needs so much repair work done that I will never get out of the mechanic’s shop.

But: “He will transform the body of our humiliation[c] that it may be conformed to the body of his glory.”

I’m counting on my Savior. He’s still saving.

Dear Lord, help me get the “me” out of your way to do your good work in the wonderful world you have placed me in. Amen.
-Tom Worrell

“Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.” – Philippians 3:17

One of the early lessons I learned in life was to imitate those whom I respected. First, it was my father, who exemplified living according to the principles of Christ and taught me to live accordingly. Then it was my two aunts, who were stalwarts of Franklin Avenue Methodist Church in Portsmouth, Ohio, and preserved much of the church’s memorabilia. Then it was the couple who acted as Christian mentors for us young adult Christians. And then there were more…

Dear God, I pray that I not only learned to imitate the Christian examples You provided, but also that I will in turn take the opportunities to help mentor others by providing good examples of the Christian life. You faithfully give me positive feedback when I do so! Amen.
-Barb Cheyney