Daily Readings: Psalm 126; Habakkuk 2:1-5; Philippians 3:7-11

Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3:7-11, NRSV

The theme of virtually every Hallmark Christmas movie is that this is the season in which we should give up the rat race and focus on what is most important: sharing, caring, friends and family. And if we are lucky we will make the changes in our lives that enable that new focus to become a permanent one. That’s not a bad sentiment. The rat race is debilitating. It consumes us. It exhausts us. Giving it up can bring us joy and peace. 

But as good and important as sharing, caring, friends and family are Paul would say that Hallmark doesn’t have it right. If we are seeking real joy and peace in our lives, something more  is needed. In some ways Paul’s words in this passage seem extreme. Are we really to count all our gains as loss? Does he mean that the achievements of our lives mean nothing? Does he mean that even the sharing, caring, friends and family we cherish are to be considered as rubbish? I’m not sure I’m ready for that. I’m ready to give up the rat race, to do the kinds of things the Hallmark movies talk about. But I’m not certain I’m ready for what seems like the extreme that Paul is talking about. 

I’m forced to come to terms with Paul when I read this passage. Is it intentional hyperbole? Is he exaggerating to make a point? Both are possibilities I suppose, but if we take that approach we can very easily end up thinking that Paul’s words don’t really apply to us. So, if we take the passage seriously, if not necessarily literally, what have we got? First, it is an affirmation of the “surpassing value” of having a relationship with Christ. Second, it makes it clear that our own efforts alone are not going to get us what we really want and need in life – our own righteousness just won’t do it. And third, it provides an ordering for our lives in the sense of “If we get this one thing right, other things will fall into place.“

Advent and Christmas celebrate the birth of the one who makes it possible to live by these three affirmations. It’s a challenge to be sure, but one I’m willing to take on.  This has been a mantra of mine for a few years now, and I’m still working on it: “All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings, and become like him in his death, in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life.” (TEV)

May both shadow and light lead you to God-With-Us.

Offered by Jeff Jones