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Letters Twenty-Eighth
Sunday in Ordinary Time |
The Catholic Telegraph
October 11, 2002Paul’s letter to the Philippians is drawing to a close. Just before the final greetings, there is a section (4.10-20) in which Paul offers special thanks to the Philippians for their generosity toward him. Apparently they had made some financial offering to him in the context of his current imprisonment. But there had been previous gifts several times before, at the beginning of his friendship with them, when he was preaching the gospel in nearby Thessalonica. Their present generosity makes Paul remember their past gifts. (Some scholars think that these verses were originally a separate thank-you letter which was later joined to other communications to make up our present single letter.)
In verses ten and eleven Paul alludes with gratitude to the Philippians’ kindness to him in his present difficult circumstances, but hastens to add that he really didn’t need anything since he has learned to be self-sufficient.
Now, as our Sunday reading begins, Paul goes on at some length about making do with what is available. He is able to enjoy abundance, but he is also able to tolerate hunger and need, no matter what the circumstances might be. It’s not that he can do all this out of his own personal resources. Rather, his capacity for coping comes from the Lord who strengthens him.
Next come a few words of gratitude, almost embarrassed in tone: it was good of you to help me in my need.
The reading that the Lectionary presents to us omits four verses here. These verses detail some of the past history of the Philippians’ help to Paul in his Thessalonian days. But they also give Paul’s evaluation of their kindness: "It is not that I am eager for the gift; rather I am eager for the profit that accrues to your account" (verse 17). That is, the benefit of your gift is not just in what it does for me, but mostly in what it does for you. He goes on to call their gift "an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (verse 18).
Our Lectionary text resumes with Paul telling the Philippians that - in view of their generosity to him - God would, in turn, be generous to them, as generous as the "glorious riches" of Christ make appropriate. The reading closes with a prayer of praise, elicited seemingly by the generosity both of the Philippians and of God: glory forever to our God and Father.
Some scholars think that the selection of verses that the Lectionary gives us here has not been skillfully made. Surely verses seventeen and eighteen should have been included. However that may be, the reading teaches about doing without and with giving.
Paul was very sensitive about accepting gifts from those to whom he ministered. He didn’t want to be supported by the people to whom he was preaching the gospel, even when this unwillingness became a source of criticism (cf. I Cor. 9). He took some degree of pride in preaching the gospel "free of charge." (I Cor. 9.18; cf. also I Thess. 2.9) This was due not so much to a spirit of bullheaded independence on Paul’s part as to a desire to entrust himself as fully and as publicly as possible to the care of Christ, to give God’s power a chance to manifest itself in him.
Consumership is not a virtue. Using as much of the world’s goods as possible, always running after the latest product, throwing things away as soon as possible so that we can get new things, constantly needing more is not part of the Christian way of life. Paul’s example suggests that it makes more sense to limit our material requirements, sometimes to "do without" entirely, so that we can give attention more fully to the work of the Lord.
As regards giving, this Sunday’s reading suggests that the blessing of generosity lies not so much in what it does for the recipient as for what it does for the giver. Even Paul was open to receiving in view of the spiritual benefit that would accrue to the ones who gave (cf. v. 17).
We are becoming more aware of this basic Christian truth as we become more experienced in the practice of stewardship. We are called to share our resources (time, talent, money) but not because of the needs out there that have to be tended to. God can find plenty of ways to tend to the needs without having to depend on our generosity. (After all, God took care of Paul well enough even when Paul refused to accept help from other people!) Rather, we are called to share our resources because sharing our resources is a blessing for us. It is one of the basic ways in which we can express our awareness of God’s generosity toward us. The need that motivates Christian giving is not on the part of the receiver, but on the part of the giver. It is not so much that others need to get as it is that we need to give.
Paul loved the Philippians and they knew it. For them he made an exception to his policy of doing without and accepted their help. But he is careful to let them know that his willingness to receive their gifts was really a gift to them from him.
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Conversation Questions.
In what ways have I experienced God’s generosity in the context of my giving?
How do I practice restraint in my use of the world’s goods?
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