Oct. 2: "Settling Accounts"

On this day of Worldwide Communion, we find Paul in prison writing to the Philippians about the only thing of value in his life -- his relationship with the risen Christ. Excerpts from this morning's sermon follow:

As people our tendency is to seek greatness for ourselves: nice homes, cars, comfortable living. We may even try to gain at another’s expense and the economic reality of the world means the clothes we wear, the coffee we drink likely was provided through the suffering and expense of others.

We find Paul is in a bit of a competition about his worthiness and integrity as a person of faith. He mockingly plays along, listing all of his accomplishments (circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless). Bragging rights go to him; he knew how to play the power game, positioned as an elite in society. He was a lawyer, Pharisee, having all the right knowledge, and connections.

Paul’s writing about a different understanding of losses and gains. He’s figured it out, after having lost his sight, his riches, his position; he lost the life he had before. At the time he was writing this letter he was in prison. He was pondering his death, wondering if this time was going to be his end. In this time of introspection, he performs an inventory/profit-loss budget of all that he had and did and concluded the only thing that mattered in his calculations was Christ.

Paul goes on to say, “Forget what lies behind, straining to what lies ahead” which is a timely message in our relations and struggles as a pastoral charge. We know how things have alwasy been done in the church and also know something has to change if we're to keep going. But we know regardless of what happens in our future, the community of faith will continue on in some form or another. We will find a way to gather at the table of remembrance and sacrament to taste a common meal and honour Jesus' ministry with us.