To Live is Christ (25th Sunday in Ordinary Time)

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Philippians is one of St. Paul’s “Prison Letters” which he wrote around AD 62 while under house arrest in Rome (see Acts 28). He wrote at a time when his fate seemed uncertain, as he wasn’t sure whether he was going to live or not. Despite this sense of uncertainty, this letter is one of the most optimistic in tone, as Paul sets out to encourage the Philippians and give them vital counsel on how to live the Christian life.

Paul’s optimism despite his circumstance stems from his conviction that everything will turn out well for him (a lesson he also shared in Romans 8:28 when he taught that God works all things for the good of those who love Him). As he states in 1:21, “to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If he lives, he is able to continue serving Christ and His Church. But if he dies, he will be with Christ and no longer has to face the sufferings of this world. Either way, something good comes about.

In fact, he states that he would rather die but be in Christ, but recognizes that he still has work to do, so it is more advantageous that he lives. We know from Church history that he does eventually get released from prison, but is imprisoned again a few years later and martyred under Emperor Nero. This gives him time to continue preaching and write a few more epistles, which have become part of our New Testament (such as the Pastoral Epistles).

In light of all this, he encourages believers to live lives worthy of Christ, and stand united in the Gospel (v. 27). We should not live as those without hope, or imitate the world in their selfish ambitions, but reflect in our lives the hope of eternity with Christ.

J. Luis Dizon