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WELCOMING CHURCH WORKERS (PHILIPPIANS 2:19-30)

REFLECTION

The theme for today’s reflection is welcoming Church Workers. While in prison at Rome, Paul wrote to the Philippians to encourage and guide them on some critical issues faced by the church. The focus of today reflection will be on Paul stressing the need for the Philippian Christians to honor and prioritize the welfare of the servants of the Lord who risk their lives in preaching the Gospel and serving the church. Paul made reference to Timothy and Epaphroditus respectively and instructed the Philippian church to “… recieve him in the Lord with all joy, and honour such men, for he nearly died to complete what was lacking in your service to me” (Philippians 2:29-30)

Timothy was a dedicated young minister who was highly commended and recommended by Paul to visit the Philippian church to minister to them while he was in prison. “For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,” (Philippians 2:20-23). We also understand that Epaphroditus was already a member and a church worker in the Philippian church. He was sent to deliver gifts to Paul in prison on behalf of the Philippian Church but fell sick after he had visited Paul in prison.” Paul wrote that “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again…” (Philippians 2:25-28)

Dear friend in the Lord, Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus were all servants and co-workers of the Lord who dedicated their lives to endure hardship and discomfort to ensure that the Gospel was preached, souls were saved and the Church well nourished spiritually with sound teaching and leadership. It takes total commitment, tolerance, unconditional love and selflessness to serve God and the Church. The Pastor, Catechist or church worker is called to sacrifice his or her time, body, resources and comfort and sometimes at the expense of his or her family to cater for the needs of the congregants. The Pastor may be going through health, marital, financial and emotional challenges yet he or she must prioritize the Gospel and the needs of his or her church members. Most often than not, most church members do not see the challenges that the pastor and his or her family go through because the pastor or leader shelves his or her personal or family challenges to open his or her arms to embrace others with challenges, counsel them, encourage and pray for them.

Sometimes the pastor is gossiped about, insulted, abused, discouraged because of his or her uncompromising Biblical principles and discipline. It is for all these reasons that Paul admonishes the church to honour them with joy. The church must equally prioritize the needs of men and women called to shepherd or lead the church. The pastor, catechist or a person who serves the church as his or her lifetime vocation must be given a proper and holistic care to ensure that he or she is focused on the core business of the church. In other words, the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of the congregants. Jesus assures us that “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward,” (Matthew 10:40-41) Shalom.

PRAYER

Almighty God, bless the Church and awaken in us the consciousness to properly welcome and take care of church workers so that your church will be blessed with dedicated men and women who possess the qualities of love, selflessness and commitment to the ministry and mission of the Church as God’s agent of transformation and salvation in the world.