Philippians in the Alps

A comfortable vacation in the Alps feels like the wrong setting to think about the Paul’s letter to the Philippians. I’ve heard it said that the Philippians were among the poorest churches, and Paul himself wrote to the Philippians from his final imprisonment. Suffering is a primary theme. And yet, you’d be forgiven if you didn’t notice this at first glance. This is because the other theme, running side by side throughout the whole letter, is joy.

Paul is in prison, and he is very aware that he faces the death penalty. Yet over and over again, Paul commands the Philippians to rejoice. He can’t help himself but to repeat it again throughout the letter, between other instruction, admonition and explanation. It's as if he's a little girl who just learned the word.

It’s a beautiful letter. Even the instruction, usually the part of Paul's letters where I'm tempting to stop paying attention and fantasize about the Cubs winning the World Series, blooms into song. Consider this passage, which starts with admonishment. “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus [at this word, Paul forgets himself; you can almost hear the John Williams-led orchestra start to play music here], who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Why be humble? Why serve? Why should I forget my natural inclination to look only for my interests, to consider my desires, my interests, myself more significant that others? Because of Jesus, about whom Paul doesn’t just preach, he sings. He continues the theme later on when preaching against any sort of religious superiority (in this case, those who claim following Christ requires circumcision), by saying Paul considers his own religious superiority rubbish compared to “knowing Jesus Christ my Lord,” and, knowingly tying it back to the are of suffering, that in deed, he was sharing in Christ’s suffering.

In spite of what I said earlier, there is a sense that it is appropriate to read Philippians on vacation. My family is here seeking peace. We’re here to settle our souls after what felt like an unending season of transition. It’s marvelous, and as I’ve mention before, the surrounding mountains remind me of my Creator. They help me to do what I should do in all circumstances, to do what Paul famously instructs the Philippians to do, if they truly want peace. “Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, rejoice! Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me-practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Amen.