Reflections on Paul

Number 4

The question is this: what is it of Jesus that Paul wants us to imitate. What has resonated with me can be found in Philippians 2:3 where we are called to not act out of sense of selfishness or vanity but to put others first. We are to avoid self-interest. 

We see in Philippians 3:7-11 Paul put aside his own sense of importance and turned away from a position of respect and esteem to become a humble servant who suffers many trial and tribulations. He remained ever faithful to his call to spread the word of the sacrificial death, resurrection and salvic return of Christ and to live life as called. 

There is a specific reference in 4:2 to two people to stop bickering and to come a common understanding. I can easily change the names from those of the ladies cited to Rick and (fill in the blank). Is that not the first lesson from our new Holy Father – to focus on service of others rather than matters that divide us? Gulp. That is me being talked to here. The lesson we can learn from the Philippians is to do just as Paul states in 4:9 when he urges the community to keep doing what they have learned from him in his example to them.