In Philippians 1: 1-11, Paul is encouraged by the way the Philippians have “continually helped promote the Gospel from the very first day” of their conversion. As soon as they were evangelized, they began to evangelize — as prophets, priests, and stewards of the kingship of Christ. They were not “passive” Christians thinking they could be “saved” without saving. This told Paul they truly “got the message.” 

Jesus said once, “To all those who have, more will be given; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” (1Luke 19:26.) Paul echoes the positive side of this when he says to his new converts, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.” Authentic Christianity keeps changing, developing, growing to perfection. Vatican II is explicit about this: 

It is evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of love…. Every Catholic must therefore aim at Christian perfection, and all must… play their part so that the Church…[and the world] may daily be more purified and renewed. (2The Church no. 40. (see also nos. 32 & 39); Decree on Ecumenism, no. 4.) 

So, Paul prays with confidence that his converts’ “love may more and more abound, both in understanding and in wealth of experience,” so that they will “learn to value the things that really matter” and labor fruitfully to establish the reign of God on earth. Then, “having produced the harvest of righteousness,” they will be judged faithful stewards when Jesus returns. (See Matthew 9: 37-38; 21: 28-43.) 

In Luke 14: 1-6, Jesus deals with the “lawyers and the Pharisees,” members of the “Pharisee party” in every age, whose religion focuses more on keeping rules than on bearing fruit. They don’t react to the man suffering from dropsy, and they refuse to answer when Jesus asks them, “Is it lawful to cure people on the sabbath, or not?” Any normal person would say, “Well, duh; it’s self-evident.” But they (and the little Pharisee our culture has grown in all of us) actually believe God prefers observance of the rules over healing people’s hurts. This is to be unfaithful stewards by focusing on the words, rather than on the will, of the master. When “love abounds,” and we obey rules with understanding and insight into God’s heart, we show “How great are the works of the Lord.” 

The Responsorial (Psalm 111) opens our eyes to what God is doing on earth: “How great are the works of the Lord.” 

Prayer Prompt: Am I actively seeking to grow in love and understanding? 

 — Fr. David M. Knight

View today’s Mass readings, Lectionary #483, on the USCCB website here

Fr. David M. Knight (1931-2021) was a priest of the Diocese of Memphis in Tennessee, a prolific writer, and a highly sought after confessor, spiritual director, and retreat master. He authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles that focus primarily on lay spirituality and life-long spiritual growth.