Homily: 4 November 2022: Philippians 3:17-4:1

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Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.

There are two classes of people, those who pattern themselves according to the model given us by Paul; and those whose minds are occupied with earthly things.

Those occupied by earthly things have not broken their preoccupation with the pleasures of food and the “beauty” of their bodies.  What they do not realize is that the Lord Jesus Christ wants to transform their lowly bodies into his glorious body.  When that happens, they will have to change their way of looking at their bodies.

Those who have patterned their lives after Paul’s know that they have citizenship in heaven and are awaiting the glorious coming of the Lord Jesus when he will conform them with his glorified body.  They take care of their bodies but do not indulge them.

Know this, therefore, whether you belong to the first group or the second group, Christ will come in glory to make your bodies glorious.  Those who have glorified bodies will share the glory of God forever.  It is this, simply.

When Paul speaks of “shame”, he is referring to our private parts.  Even these private or lowly parts will be parts of the glorified body.  We can accept ourselves as we are and not worry about appearances because when Christ comes, everything will have been worked in the end.