In today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we hear: “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus” (1:6). In the ordination of a deacon, priest, or bishop, you hear something similar. After the candidate makes his vows, he kneels before the ordaining bishop who says to him: “May God who has begun the good work in you bring it to fulfillment.”
Everything we do in service to God’s people is first and foremost God’s work and initiative. It is God who began the work in each of us. And it is God who will bring that work to completion. Share on XThis is a good reminder and blessing for each of us this Advent. It reminds us that everything we do in service to God’s people is first and foremost God’s work and initiative. It is God who began the work in each of us. And it is God who will bring that work to completion. This is a blessing, too, because we can be assured that the fruit of our work will be fulfilled—perhaps not in our time but in God’s. So we need not be anxious nor impatient but remain joyful even in our waiting. We still need to work diligently to the best of our abilities, and thus be good co-laborers with God and with one another. All we do is prepare the way and let God bring it to fulfillment.
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