1 March 2024 Saint David, Bishop
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.
From Philippians 3: 8-14, NRSV
In this letter to his friends in Philippi, Paul expressed his longing to end the “race” of faith that he had been running for many years and to be at peace with Christ. Paul regarded everything that came before as “rubbish” when compared to what he had gained since coming to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul had given up many things that made his previous life comfortable and respectable. As a high ranking Jew, he held a place of honour and respect in society. His life after his encounter with Christ was far less easy and involved many privations. Yet Paul saw that what he had gained was worth far more than anything he had lost. In a similar way, Saint David left his aristocratic background to found a monastery renowned for its simple and austere life.
- What do you think made it possible for Paul to endure the difficulties of being an apostle of Christ?
- Does anything make it difficult for you to live as a Christian?
Pray today for the people of Wales.
