From: Philippians 4:4-7
Exhortation to Perseverance and Joy (Continuation)
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Commentary:
4. What St Paul says here is particularly impressive if one bears in mind that he
is writing this letter from prison. In order to have joy it does not matter if we are
living in difficult conditions. “For a Christian, joy is a treasure. Only by offending
God do we lose it, because sin is the fruit of selfishness, and selfishness is the
root of sadness. Even then, a bit of joy survives under the debris of our soul—the
knowledge that neither God nor his (Christ’s) Mother forgets us. If we repent, if
an act of sorrow springs from our heart, if we purify ourselves in the holy sacra-
ment of penance, God comes out to meet and forgive us. Then there can be no
sadness whatsoever” (St. J. Escriva, “Christ Is Passing By”, 178).
The kind of profound joy that fills the soul with peace does not derive from the sa-
tisfaction of physical or material needs but from faithfulness to God and his com-
mandments by embracing the Cross. “This is the difference between us and
those who do not know God,” St Cyprian says: “they complain in adversity; but
difficulties do not draw us away from virtue or from the true faith. On the contrary,
our virtue and faith are reinforced in affliction” (”De Mortalitate”, 13).
In the Old Testament, God, speaking through Nehemiah, said, “Do not be grieved,
for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). Joy, in fact, is a powerful ally
in the struggle to achieve victory (cf. 1 Mac 3:2ff), to conquer evil with good, for it
is something closely connected with grace. “The true worth of what a Christian
does is determined by the active presence of God’s grace in him and his deeds.
In a Christian’s heart, therefore, peace is inseparable from joy [...]. when the joy
that is in a Christian heart is poured out on others, it gives them hope and opti-
mism; it spurs them to be generous in their daily toil and infects the entire so-
ciety. My children, only if you have in you this divine grace which is joy and
peace, will you be able to do anything useful for others” (John Paul II, “Address”,
10 April 1979).
5-7. “The Lord is at hand”: the Apostle reminds the faithful of the nearness of our
Lord; he wants to encourage them to rejoice and to be understanding towards
one another. These words must surely have brought to their minds the exclama-
tion “Marana tha” (Come, Lord), which was often in the lips at liturgical celebra-
tions (cf. note on 1 Cor 16:21-24). In the sort of hostile environment that many of
them lived in, they needed to put their hope in their Savior, Jesus Christ, who will
come from heaven to judge the living and the dead (cf. Phil 3:20; 1 Thess 4:16ff;
2 Thess 1:5). St Paul does not mean to specify when the “Parousia” or second
coming of Christ will take place (cf. “Introduction to St Paul’s Epistles to the
Thessalonians” in “The Navarre Bible: Thessalonians; EB”, 414-461; note on Mt
24:36). Like the first Christians, we should make sure it does not catch us un-
prepared.
Besides, the Lord is always near us, always caring for us in his providence (cf.
Ps 119:151). There is no reason for us to feel ill at ease. He is our Father, he is
near to all who call on him (cf. Ps 145:18); he listens to our prayers, ever ready
to instruct us and to give us whatever we need to overcome difficulties that arise.
All that he asks is that we trustingly tell him our situation, speaking to him with
the simplicity of a child.
Constant dialogue with God in prayer is, as St Paul suggests, a good way to
prevent anything robbing us of peace of soul, for prayer “regulates our affections”,
St Bernard teaches, “directs our actions, corrects our faults, guides our conduct,
beautifies and orders our life; it brings with it knowledge of things divine and
things human also. It determines what we ought to do and reflects on what we
have done, in such a way that our heart never becomes wanton or in need of dis-
cipline” (”Book of Consideration”, I, 7).
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Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.
Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.
Liturgical Colour: Rose or Violet.
| First reading |
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| Zephaniah 3:14-18 © |
| The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst |
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| Responsorial Psalm | Isaiah 12 © |
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| The rejoicing of a redeemed people |
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| Second reading |
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| Philippians 4:4-7 © |
| The Lord is very near |
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| Gospel Acclamation | Is61:1(Lk4:18) |
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| Gospel | Luke 3:10-18 © |
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| 'Someone is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire' |
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