Saturday after the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity Sunday
Posted on August 17, 2024 by under
Scripture: Philippians 1:19-30 (NKJV)
1:19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Devotion
As St. Paul writes this, he is in prison (v. 13). He has two goals in mind for the Philippians: first, that they would rejoice with him in his persecution; second, that they would imitate him in steadfastness. They should rejoice because through his sufferings the Gospel is spreading, as he says, “Christ will be magnified in my body.” And, so that they might learn from his example, he commands them, “Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ.” In this way, he commands every Christian to be steadfast in the pure confession of the Faith, especially in the face of persecution.
We should not confuse persecution with that which is merely resistance. People insulting you on social media is not necessarily persecution. St. Paul was beaten, stoned, imprisoned, and ultimately martyred for preaching the Gospel. That is what persecution looks like, and there is real persecution of Christians in the world today. Those whom God has, till now, protected from violent persecution must prepare for it by holding steadfast to the true Faith in every situation. For how will anyone stand fast in persecution if he does not stand fast during peace?
Collect: Almighty and Everlasting God, Who art always more ready to hear than we to pray, and art wont to give more than either we desire or deserve: Pour down upon us the abundance of Thy mercy, forgiving us those things whereof our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask, but through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
