Windows for Mirrors

A Reflection on the Second Reading for December 9th, 2018:
​Second Sunday of Advent

​Philippians 1.3-6, 8-11 

Brothers and sisters, I thank my God every time I remember you, constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, because of your sharing in the Gospel from the first day until now.

I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you determine what is best, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

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​Context is everything. At first glance, this passage appears to be a simple collection of encouraging words from St. Paul to the Philippians – a little ray of light to brighten up an already glowing community of believers.

Reading past these paragraphs, we learn that Paul is writing to his brothers and sisters-in-Christ from prison, under strict guard and in a life-threatening situation. 

Amidst these troubling circumstances, Saint Paul chooses to begin his letter with thanksgiving. Paul thanks God for the new disciples who are continuing the Church’s mission in Philippi, and he “pray[s] with joy”, expresses confidence, shares his hopes and prayers, and speaks of his longing for the people to grow.

Surely Paul is suffering right now, and it couldn’t have been easy to find a way to contact the outside world from within a prison cell. Perhaps he snuck pen and paper in and risked punishment to write this letter. Or maybe his captors figured that this Christian man would write to his friends to warn them and discourage them from spreading the Gospel, or to plea for help and deliverance. If I was writing from prison, the first thing on my mind would be to ask for help and support, at least in prayer.

Yet Paul is somehow not focused on himself, but is entirely other-oriented. His words are pastoral, apostolic, and they are in line with what a great leader ought to say. But what fills me with wonder and awe is how Paul goes beyond earthly expectations and he loves these people with a Eucharistic love – a love that is self-giving and thanks-giving. How can he look beyond his current state and not begin his letter by asking for assistance or prayers or anything to offer him consolation or relief? A suffering person could only pour out love in a such a way by being united with the heart of Christ – a heart that allows itself to be bruised, beaten, kneaded, prepared, risen into bread and given for others to consume.

"A suffering person could only pour out love in a such a way by being united with the heart of Christ –
a heart that allows itself to be bruised, beaten, kneaded, prepared, risen into bread
​and given for others to consume."  

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I, on the other hand, am far from this kind of love. In my day-to-day life I hardly face this magnitude of difficulty, yet I regularly struggle to move throughout my day with an attitude of gratitude and an outward focus. I often look through a mirror instead of a window; staring at my own reflection rather than looking out towards the light. When I become more interested in “navel gazing” than wondering what I could do to serve, strengthen, and encourage others, I become anxious and concerned with my own hunger.

Let us Pray:
Jesus please share your eucharistic heart with me, so I can grow in authentic love and learn to be a gift to others. By the intercession of Saint Paul, help me to see the people I can influence and encourage to grow and let me be reminded constantly to give myself to them selflessly. May I think of myself less and thank You more for the many graces You surround me with. Amen.

​Kendra Chisholm

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