All Paul Fall #4: Philippians
This is Part 4 of a 13-part series of brief reflections on the letters of Paul. These reflections are part of the Saturday Morning Prayer service for St. Stephen’s Episcopal Cathedral’s Facebook Live Ministry.
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:4-7, 10-13 (Common English Bible)
I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Rejoice in the Lord!
Many times in this letter, Paul uses some form of the word “joy,” especially in reminding the church to rejoice. This is actually quite remarkable, because many people believe that Paul wrote this letter while he was in prison. It is possible that this letter is a response to some kind of support that the church at Philippi sent to Paul. In any case, this blows away the image that some people have of Paul being a stern or joy-less person. Nothing can be further from the truth: Paul’s writings are filled with talk about joy.
Rejoice in the Lord, always!
In fact, Paul uses his incarceration as a way of encouraging his churches. Not only does Paul say to rejoice, he says to rejoice always. Rejoice when things are good; rejoice when things are going badly; rejoice when you are hungry; rejoice when you are full. Paul wants his churches to remember their true destiny — their true destination — which is a restored world and a restored life. That destiny is real and manifest within the believers, so they should not be too concerned with the ups-and-downs of life.
Christian serenity.
Paul is spearheading an idea that I like to call Christian Serenity. Much later, Saint Ignatius of Loyola would have similar ideas, and his Jesuit followers refer to it as “Ignatian Indifference.” The concept is the same: once we have joined the church and become followers in Christ, we are able to practice indifference to the way that the world treats us. It is not an easy task, and it takes much practice to put aside our egos and to trust in God. But Paul encourages us to develop this mindset.
I can do this with Christ’s help.
As a final note, we have to address the last line of today’s reading, Phil. 4:13. “I can do all things through him who gives me strength,” as it is often quoted on bumper stickers and those school folders you can buy at Christian book stores. This is called prooftexting – taking a piece of scripture out of context to make it mean what you want. When you read the passage in its context, it is clear that Paul is saying that he is able to keep his joyful outlook in spite of his troubles by the strength that Christ gives him.
That is a very powerful statement; but it is very different from the bumper-sticker version, which implies that God will instantly give us the ability to do whatever we want, just by having faith. God is not a vending machine who dispenses whatever we ask for; God is a loving companion in our journey who refreshes us and gives us cause for rejoicing even in our darkest moments.
