Rejoice (Philippians 4:4-7)

By Rev. Heather J. Blais, Rector

​Today’s reading from the Christian Scriptures features Paul’s Letter to the Philippians. The church in Philippi was a well established community in Macedonia who had been supporting Paul’s missionary endeavors for quite some time.  They believed in the Jesus Movement, and had dedicated their time, talent, and treasure to the spread of that movement.  

In my opinion, this letter is some of Paul’s finer work. There are numerous turns of phrase that leave listeners feeling inspired, hopeful, and ready to dig in and be the Church. 
Both in Paul’s time and place, and today. 

A few verses after the ones featured in today’s lesson, Paul writes: “I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need. I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me” (4:12-13). 

These are the words that I lean on when life is hardest. When I am afraid or in pain, I pray these words on a permanent loop. It is quite literally what helps me pivot from freezing in the face of the perceived danger into forward movement. They help me remember that any and all strength that I have comes from Christ’s constant presence within us. They give me the courage to face any embarrassment or shame, fear and uncertainty, loneliness or despair.  Whatever difficulties lie ahead, Christ is within us, and gives us the strength to keep walking forward. And because Christ is what binds us to God and one another, these words are also a reminder that we are not alone. We have one another, creation, the Church, and the entire human family. 

So if it’s been a while since you’ve read this letter, or maybe never have - make space this coming week, and read it. It’s only four chapters long. I promise, you’ll find at least one gem to carry with you. 

The themes that Paul emphasizes the most in this letter are humility and unity. One reason the church in Philippi held so steady was because they really strived to embody those core values. To this day, humility and unity signal a community is healthy and well grounded in their faith.   When we’re not caught up in our own ego or insisting things go our way, we become pliable. The Holy Spirit moves in and through us, and something remarkable blossoms as a result. Just think of our own merger, and how each time we leaned into the idea we were better together, something truly beautiful would unfold. 

One of the natural outgrowths of humility and unity is joy. Paul repeatedly invites the Philippians to rejoice! He is telling them - in the name of Christ, and as a body of Christ: Feel joy! Show joy! Cause joy!

We rejoice by navigating life with a gentle spirit. We let those around us know that we are on their side, that we are standing with them in the name of Christ. Particularly those most vulnerable and overlooked. 

We also rejoice by choosing not to worry about anything. Instead, we make the daily, or even hourly, choice to give everything over to God through our prayer and thanksgiving. We insist on being people of prayer, bringing everything to God. 

We rejoice! Because when we live this way, Paul writes,  “...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.”

We rejoice! 

• Rejoice in the gifts of our ancestors that have made us who we are today. 
• Rejoice in the children and teenagers that are in our parish and the wider community. 
• Rejoice in the social service agencies, faith communities, and volunteer groups that are standing beside us as we seek to love our neighbors, bringing peace and justice to this corner of God’s creation. 
• Rejoice in a roof over our heads, and food on our tables. 
• Rejoice in the medical professionals and caregivers that help sustain our health. 
• Rejoice in educators who love to help their students learn.
• Rejoice in clean water, infrastructure, and world leaders that are trying to bring about good.  
• Rejoice in toilet paper, spellcheck, duck tape, and cat videos. 
• Rejoice in the five second rule, deodorant, and washing machines. 
• Rejoice in grandparents and grandchildren, family, friends, and neighbors. 
• Rejoice in laughter, inside jokes, and a sense of play.
• Rejoice in the Sabbath, in vacation, and adventure. 
• Rejoice in the lessons we learn from pain and sorrow. 
• Rejoice in forgiveness, in second, third, and seventy-seven chances to begin again. 

No matter what else is happening in our lives, each and every day, let us Rejoice. Because when we live this way,  “...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and [our] minds in Christ Jesus.”

Last Sunday, Bishop Beckwith joined us for a tour of our campus, worship, and a scripture study after the service. When we spoke later in the week, he lifted up our parish’s sense of unity and joy around our mission and ministry, our commitment to being in relationship with our neighbors and the wider community, and our use of expansive and inclusive language in our worship.  He described our community as a center of healing in Greenfield. I quite love that image, and I think it accurately describes our community. 

During this time where there is anxiety and uncertainty for the future, where there is economic burden, where there is a mental health crisis, here at James and Andrew we have the privilege of being a center for healing. We have the great joy and delight of being Christ’s hands and feet in this small corner of God’s world. No matter how strained things may become in the wider world, we can do our small part by continuing to be a center of healing, right here, right now.  Collaborating with others as we walk the Way. 
And what I really love about that image is that it is something we can do and be for a long time, for decades to come. No matter our budget, staff, or campus size; no matter how many members we might have or our energy level - we can be agents of Christ’s healing love in this world. We will find different ways to do so at different chapters of our parish life. But we can be a center of healing in Greenfield.  As long as we keep rejoicing. Keep feeling the joy God offers us through Christ and the Spirit.  Showing that joy in the way we live our lives. Causing that joy to spread to others through our mission and ministry. 

The greatest tool we have to keep rejoicing is nurturing a healthy and active prayer life. There are many kinds of prayer, and there’s a time and place for all of them. There are also seasons in our prayer life when we have found something that works and we can coast along. Then there are other seasons when life demands us to expand or deepen our prayer life. To move beyond our comfort and confidence zones. To hold more space and time to be with God, to hold still and listen. To lift up each person in our own circle of care, each group, each project or endeavor. To pray deeply for our small corner of God’s tapestry. 

Often when we deepen and expand our prayer life, our capacity for joy also deepens and expands. Something new unfurls and blossoms in our spiritual lives. A way becomes clear when it once felt like there was no way. A peace that surpasses any logical understanding takes root in our soul. 

I know many of you are carrying so much right now. Whether that be an endless list of responsibilities, or the burden of health challenges and aging. I know the headlines can leave us feeling depleted, and make it hard to want to rejoice. We may even feel like prayer is fruitless. But dear ones, it is not. 

This is the time for us as the Church to be Rejoicing. To feel Christ’s joy. To show Christ’s joy. To cause others to experience Christ’s joy. It is a season to hold a bit more space for prayer. In doing so, we are allowing ourselves to receive the balm of Christ’s healing love, and then sharing that love with God’s world. 

So dear ones, as we look to the week ahead, I want to invite each of us to reflect: How is our prayer life? Is it time to coast or is it a season of deepening and expanding? Who in our life needs to be prayed for? Also - what do we need to be rejoicing and celebrating right now? Amen.

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