Year A: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Second Reading: Philippians 1:20-24,27

Philippi was in Macedonia and was probably the first city in Europe to hear the Gospel preached - and where the first European convert was made.

It seems to have been a place where St Paul felt welcomed and his letter to the Philippians is full of warmth and affection. This was in spite of the fact that he had been beaten and imprisoned there by the Romans who accused him of spreading Jewish propaganda.

The Jewish community there had no synagogue so Paul's conversations with his new converts would have taken place outside the city walls - but it was not long before a woman called Lydia insisted that the missionaries stayed at her home. As a merchant in purple cloth, she would have been fairly prosperous but used her wealth generously in providing a home and financial support for the travellers.

St Paul is able to be honest with the Philippians about his feelings about death - and how, in fact, he longs for it. This is not an easy subject to address - but, like many very holy people there is a conflict between continuing the work laid before them on earth and the longing for complete union with Christ.

As St Paul says, Christ is glorified whether he, personally, is alive or dead - and his own preference is to be with Christ. But, as he thinks about this small - but growing - community, he realises why God has not called him home yet. The work is having good results and he finds much pleasure in that.

He has encountered so many difficulties and dangers in proclaiming the Gospel - the fact of having this particular jewel in his crown is a source of real joy.

Any kind of discipleship can be very hard-going at times and we need the solidarity of people who share the vision and with whom we can relax and be restored.

St Paul found this among the ordinary people in Philippi - and it is thanks, in part, to them that he was saw the results of his work - and was encouraged to carry on.

 What does it mean for me?

How can we help those who are called to be “missionaries” or active workers for the Gospel?

Text © 2007 Wellspring

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