ALL MY STRENGTH COMES FROM GOD

ALL MY STRENGTH COMES FROM GOD

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

From the Epistle to the Philippians (4:10-19).

Paul has reached the final greetings of his

letter. Even when he is writing to his beloved

community at Philippi, from whom alone he

would accept gifts, Paul is anxious to maintain

his independence.

In the ancient world, as in the modern world, a

favour demands a return-favour: ‘there is no

such thing as a free dinner’! So Paul points out

that he could manage without the gift they have

given him, since all his strength comes from

God. But he also wishes them the blessing of

the fulfilment of all their needs from the glory of

God in Christ Jesus.

This is an incomparable blessing, whose

awesome value is obscured by our careless use

of the term ‘glory’. The glory of God is a term

frightening in its richness. No human being can

see God and live, but Moses can for a moment

glimpse God’s glory – after which his face is so

seared that he must wear a veil over it.

It is a glory which, by contrast, fills Isaiah with

dread at his own sinfulness, which makes

Ezekiel fall to the ground. It is the experience of

the limitless power and majesty of God.

The Word of The Lord teaches us to return favor

with blessings and to strive to share whatever

we have given no matter how small it is. Since

You O Lord, you are our gift and our

satisfaction.