God Is Doing a Good Work in Us

 In today's first reading, Philippians 1: 1-11, St. Paul reminds us that "the one who began a good work in [us] will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus! He then tells us that he is praying for us   "that [our] love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that  [we] may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of  righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God."

What is the good work that God has begun in us at our baptisms? In baptism we were clothed with righteousness and wrapped in a mantle of justice!  God continues that work of salvation, transforming us into the person of Christ day by day! Moment by moment, we grow in "knowledge and every kind of perception," and make progress in developing the gift "to discern what is of value!"  Because of Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead for our sakes, we already stand before God  "pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God."  However, we are growing into that state of righteousness! We are in the process of becoming "pure and blameless for the day of Christ!"

The process is not an easy one, as it involves going to Calvary, dying, as it were! Dying in what way? Dying  to selfishness and sin, to our own will and submitting to God's will. That submission involves living the Gospel in a radical way, submitting our wills to the will of others here on earth. Our ego does not want to do that and will resist such submission, having a tantrum, if you will, like a toddler!

I am reminded, as friends and fellow Sisters submit to "Sister Death," in the words of our holy father, St. Francis of Assisi, of this kind of submission! As we approach death, we become totally dependent on caregivers to do everything for us that, when well, we could do for ourselves. God nails us, if you will, to the cross of dying and then raises us with Him! We can practice "dying" ahead of time by letting go of doing it "my way", letting others do for us what we are capable of doing for ourselves!