Stand Firm in the Lord

03-17-2019Weekly Reflection

It is not hard to imagine, in this age of wars, evil groups bent on the destruction of humanity, and political follies, that the words of Saint Paul were so accurate, even for his time. It seems that the world never changes. Paul says, "Many...conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is their destruction...Their minds are occupied with earthly things" (Philippians 3:18, 19). The result is the destruction of innocent people and of the Earth itself.

But Paul says to the Philippians, "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ" (3:20). He will "change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body" (3:21). Note that he says "body" rather than "bodies." He is talking about the whole community of believers, who, following the example of Jesus and of Paul, will come into the glory of God. So "stand firm in the Lord" (4:1).