Fill In The Blank
September 20, 2023
Fr. John Riccardo
Brothers and sisters:
Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
For to me life is Christ, and death is gain.
If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. Yet that I remain in the flesh is more necessary for your benefit.
Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ.
(Phil 1:20c-24,27)
A dear brother is headed for major surgery soon. The doctors have warned him, together with his wife, that the surgery itself is life-threatening. He’s a man of deep faith, and he’s prepared, as much as anyone can be, to stand before the Lord, if this is his time, though he doesn’t think it is. Yet. Please pray for him, and for all those undergoing surgery in the week ahead.
As my friend and I were speaking recently I couldn’t help but think of these words of St. Paul. Philippians is perhaps the “gentlest” of Paul’s letters. It’s a remarkably affectionate missive to a community the Apostle greatly loves, and who entered into a partnership with him. Philiipi was the place where Paul encountered Lydia, who was to become such a dear sister. It was also a city where Paul and Silas were thrown into prison. There, in the inner cell, instead of weeping and moaning about their situation and wondering why God had let this happen to them, they broke into hymns of praise. Suddenly, an earthquake struck, cell doors and chains were broken, and the jailer who was responsible for them ended up getting baptized, together with his whole household .
Now, as Paul writes to his friends, he is again (!) in prison. His future is very much unknown. There’s a real chance he’s going to be executed. Like my friend headed for surgery, though, Paul doesn’t think his time has come. Yet. He thinks there’s still more work to be done for the Lord. It’s worth noting, however, that Paul isn’t hoping to hang around a bit longer to make some more money, see a few more sites, or even enjoy the family (not that there’s anything wrong with any of those). If he’s going to keep living, it’s going to be for the sake of “fruitful labor.” That’s what he’s all about. That’s what discipleship is all about.
Imagine for a moment sitting in prison, or awaiting a life threatening surgery, or heading into yet another round of chemotherapy. We decide to sit down and write a letter to our wife, husband, children, or dear friend. We are staring face to face with the prospect that this might be it, the sand in the hourglass might really be nearing the end at last. We might be only hours away from standing face to face before God.
We begin the letter by telling our loved ones of our affection and gratitude and so much more. We move on to address the stark reality of what we’re facing and of our faith in the God whose power is made perfect in weakness and whose grace is sufficient for all things. We write page after page of the fond memories we have, the things we want to make sure we acknowledge, recognize, and honor.
At last we get to the crescendo. We let them know we’re not afraid; we trust in the Lord; we know He has us in His hands; we know He has defeated death and that what awaits us is beyond what any eye has seen or ear heard, beyond what even any mind can comprehend. We know we’re going to be together again. At last we prepare to sign off and begin the final sentence. We begin, “For to me, life is Christ and death is…”
How would you fill in the blank? How would I?
Let us ask St. Paul, and all the saints, to intercede for us this week, to live each day well, to conduct ourselves in a way worthy of the Lord, to engage in fruitful labor for the kingdom of God. But let us also ask them to pray for us to know in a new way that as rich as this life can be and is some days, the life to come is better – infinitely better. The kingdom of heaven is more, not less! Not because all of our wildest dreams and fantasies come true, but because in that place there is no sorrow, no sickness, no pain, no division, no fear, no tears, and no goodbyes. But most of all because there we will be with the Lord.