The next four Sundays we will be listening to readings from St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Therefore, I think some background on this letter is helpful.
Philippi was a city in the large fertile plains of central Macedonia. The name of the city comes from Philip (father of Alexander the Great) who conquered it in 360 BC. It had become a strategic place for the Romans who controlled Philippi from 168 BC. A few wars were fought in the plains of Philippi – most important, was the battle between Octavian (Emperor Augustus) and Mark Anthony, defeating Cassius and Brutus. Philippi, under Roman rule, had become a melting pot of many cultures. Though Latin was the official Language, Greek was used as a common day-to-day language.
The first Christian community (Church) in Philippi was founded by Paul around AD 49. The nucleus of this group were ‘God-fearing’ Jewish women who were meeting at the river for prayer on sabbath. Lydia, a merchant woman, invited Paul to her home and started a community of believers in her own home. Paul remained in Philippi until the community could sustain itself and proclaim the Good News. Later, Luke, Silas, and Timothy frequented the community to support them in faith.
In today’s Passage, we see Epaphroditus was sent as a helper with gifts to Paul, who is in prison. Paul appreciates their generosity and praises their pure joy in sharing. Despite being persecuted and though in poverty, the Philippians were generous in sharing whatever they had. The joy of Christ (Gospel) which is expressed, despite poverty, becomes a great symbol of real generosity.
At this juncture, Paul is exhausted by his many years of preaching, during which he suffered both physically and spiritually. Now he wants to die. He wants to unite himself to his master. But at the same time, Paul sees he is needed by the simple communities like Philippi. This fact keeps him going. The friendship and gratitude shown by this small community revives his spirit.
Through Epaphroditus, Paul sends back this letter to Philippi to fill his absence from their community. He expresses his concern over the suffering they are enduring because of their preaching of the Gospel. But Paul’s main intention in writing this letter is to warn Philippi against disunity within the community as it may render futile any advancement of the Gospel.
–Fr. Ranjan D’Sa OCD