The Holy Martyr Charitina
Philippians 1:1-7; Luke 4:37-44
Read Philippians 1:1-7
Saint Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Philippi while he was in prison. We must remember that he was imprisoned a few times: in Philippi, in Caesarea, and in Rome. This imprisonment in Philippi had him chained in a common holding room. Certainly not a pleasant experience. It makes you wonder how Paul can write that he prays with joy for his brothers and sisters in Christ in damp conditions and restricted by chains. Joy is one of the keynotes of this letter. We will see it in the weeks to come as we make our way through the letter.
The joy of the Lord abounds not only in the good and pleasant times but also in the midst of suffering, sorrow, distress, and imprisonment. Paul notes this when he recalls that the Christians in Philippi not only listened to the Gospel but received it and lived it … and they participated in various ways in the continuation of the mission of Paul, which is simply the mission of the Lord, bringing the Good News to the ends of the earth.
This section of Paul’s letter gives us pause to examine how we are doing in continuing that mission of the Lord. Have we shared good news with others (especially through this pandemic)? Have we shared our faith with others? Have we made an invitation to others to learn more about our Lord and His Bride, the Church? Have we invited others to Divine Liturgy with us (or to watch it together on the various live streams throughout our country)?
If we are seeking joy in our lives, a joy that is not transitory or lasting only but a moment, but a joy that is long-lasting and sustaining, we need to look to sharing our faith with others.