26th Day of Lent

Thursday, April 3, 2025

Philippians 2:19-24, NRSV

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I may be cheered by news of you. I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But Timothy’s worth you know, how like a son with a father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I will also come soon.

Reflection - Pastor Laurie Pfahler, Royersford United Methodist Church

Isn’t it great to be the body of Christ? … to know that when called by God, we do not have to do it alone? Or SHOULDN’T have to do it alone. Sometimes we feel alone, especially when counting on leadership and teamwork; but something happens, and we find ourselves short of help and everything comes to a screeching halt. When Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, he was in prison. He was not available to help them in-person. One of his concerns was that they keep faithful and continue to function as one body, together because God was at work in them, and they were not alone. Paul sent Timothy, another part of the body of Christ, to help so that they would not feel alone and to build upon the good they had already accomplished. Friends, we can’t profess we are the body of Christ and in the same breath, claim to be alone. When we authentically live as the body of Christ, we help each other. When one of us is down, we adjust to continue the work. But we need to be willing to help, ask for help, and accept the help we get. The help is there! We are not alone. You are not alone.

Prayer: Lord God, keep us mindful of your presence and the presence of others seeking the interests of you through Jesus Christ, and how we ALL work together and are never alone. Amen.