Reflection for 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Philippians 2:1-11

       I love our second reading Paul’s letter to the Philippians.  This reading probably sounds very familiar to us as we hear the last part of this reading each year on Palm Sunday.  Biblical scholars believe that Paul adapted these words from a hymn in the early Church.  The contrasts that Paul points out in this reading are striking: Jesus was indeed divine, but he took on human likeness; those both in heaven and on earth are to bend their knee to honor Jesus; and in the humiliation that Jesus suffered on the cross, he gained for us victory over sin; and through his humiliation, he has earned our exaltation. 

       In this letter, Paul starts by encouraging this community of faith, telling them to be of the same in mind, heart, and love of Christ.  Yet, in all of the enthusiasm we can have for our faith, we’re not to live out our faith with arrogance or pride, we are not to lord our faith over others. We are to live in the same manner that Jesus lived: by being humble, by being a servant, by not seeking glory for himself, but by proclaiming the kingdom of God in all things.

         Paul saw hope, joy, and encouragement in his faith, in the new life he had in Christ, which he tried to pass down to the communities he founded as he asked those in Philippi to imitate him and the way he lived out his faith.  In our modern world, as we follow along this same journey of discipleship that Paul walked, where are called to find glimmers of hope, joy, and support in our difficulties, challenges, sufferings.  

          We are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Flu season is already starting.  The weather is getting colder.  We all need to continue to be careful and to take safety measures to protect ourselves, our loved ones, and our neighbors.  Yet, we still need to hear the call to faith, the call to keep the Sabbath holy, the call to be a part of our parish community.  For most of us, it is safe to come to mass, whether it be one of the sparsely attended daily masses during the week, a drive-in mass on the weekend, or a traditional mass in church on Sunday.  We have some wonderful faith formation activities we can participate both virtually and in person.  God is still calling us and reaching out to us even in the midst of the difficulties and challenges we face today.  Let us respond in faith and in love.