My joy and crown

“… Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.” (Phil 3: 20-21–4:1)

Our Lord knows us perfectly. We are His beloved brothers and sisters not because we are perfect, but because we are chosen by God the Father to be His children. He knows our limits, “our lowly body,” so He doesn’t expect that we will be able to change ourselves into “his glorified body.” We “await a savior” who will change our lowly body by His power and will “bring all things into subjection to himself.”

I like to think about you, my brothers and sisters, readers of my daily homilies, like St. Paul: “my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved.”

“You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.” (Communion Antiphon)