The Holy Martyrs Probus, Tarachus, and Andronicus; Our Venerable Father Cosmas of Jerusalem, Bishop of Maium and Composer of Canon. Our Holy Father Martin the Compassionate, Bishop of Tours.
Philippians 4:10-23; Luke 7:36-50.
Read Philippians 4:10-23
For St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Paul is the preeminent example of what it means to be a Christian: “For he most of all knew what Christ is, and he indicated by what he did the kind of person named for Him: imitating Him so brilliantly that he revealed his own Master in himself, his own soul being transformed through his accurate imitation of his prototype, so that Paul no longer seemed to be living and speaking, but Christ Himself seemed to be living in him (St. Gregory of Nyssa, On Perfection). Paul himself also exhorts us to: “be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:11).
In today’s reading, St. Paul tells us: “I have learned, in whatever state I am, to be content” (Phil 4:11). This contentment is the fruit of what the Fathers call apathia; not to be confused with our English word apathy, meaning not caring – but closer to what we might refer to as detachment.
For the Fathers, apathia means the ability to think, act, and function apart from the demands of our desires and appetites. This kind of detachment is perfect, undivided attention, and total receptivity to divine influence.
Apathia, therefore, is an integral part of being worked to the image of God and participating in his life. It is not indifference or “otherworldliness” or self-absorption, but rather a death to self, which results in the spiritual contentment that St. Paul speaks about today. This is why he can truly say, “I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; in any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and want” (Phil 4:12).
St. Augustine tells us, “All sorts of people indeed can suffer poverty, but to “know how to suffer poverty” is a mark of greatness. Likewise, who is there who may not abound? But to “know how to abound” belongs to none but those who are not corrupted by abundance.” (On the Good of Marriage, 25). This is not the fruit of human effort, as in the apathia of the Stoic philosophers, which has become so popular in our modern productivity literature, but it is the fruit of our being in Christ, so St. Paul adds: “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13). “Since this might seem like a great boast, see how quickly he adds: “I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.” “Any achievement I have had belongs not to me but to the One who gave me strength.” (St. John Chrysostom, Homily 16 on Philippians).
So let us strive to imitate St. Paul, and to be content in every circumstance we might encounter today, in the words of the prayer recited daily by Bl. Klement Sheptytsky: “Whatever news I may receive today, teach me to accept it with a peaceful soul and with the firm conviction that Your will governs all things. In all my deeds and words, guide my thoughts and feelings. In unforeseen events, let me not forget that all are sent by You…O Lord, give me the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day with all that it shall bring. “ For we can truly do all things in Christ who gives us strength.