'I give thanks to my God at every remembrance of you, 4 praying always with joy in my every prayer for all of you, 5 because of your partnership for the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right that I should think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, you who are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. 8 For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, 10 to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God (Phil. 1:3-11).'
The Philippians have been converted through Paul’s preaching of the Gospel and he opens his letter with a standard prayer formula (see Rom. 1:8). The Philippians and Paul have a deep sharing in the work of the Gospel. They have supported Paul in the past and are now supporting him while he is in prison. Paul prays with joy for them and is confident that they will persevere in good works until the Parousia, the day when Christ returns in Glory after he has brought the world into subjection to God’s glory; “He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself (Phil. 3:21).” Paul’s upcoming trial will be an occasion to preach the Gospel. His being in chains is not evil but grace which reflects the mystery of the Gospel manifested in our weakness and suffering, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).” Paul prays with his deepest affection that their knowledge and spiritual insight will increase so that they can discern what is necessary for their salvation. If they understand the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection, they will discern what is true and just and be found pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness when Christ returns.
Almighty God, help us to understand the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection and the Gospel so that we too may be filled with every good grace necessary for us to be found pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness when we are called to meet Jesus. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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