Alive in Christ

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21

On the school notice Board in the foyer of St Mary Radcliffe and Temple school in Bristol is a poster that certainly puts our text in context. It says : ‘Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose today and will come again tomorrow.’

“To live is Christ” means that we imitate the example of Christ. Everything that Jesus did and said, that’s what Paul wanted to do and say. The church benefitted from his godly example: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). What would Jesus do? That’s what we want to do.

“To live is Christ” means that we pursue the knowledge of Christ. We want to know Christ better and better each day. Not just a set of facts about Christ, but Christ Himself. “I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead” Philippians 3:10-11.

Isn’t it true that we all desire to be fully alive? We want to live each day knowing that our lives have meaning and purpose.  Our hearts long for love and fulfilment. The good news is that we can satisfy this longing by living in friendship with the Lord, which is really what it means to live in holiness.

Today, we can:

- Choose to be loving to each person we encounter

- Choose to be joyful even in the midst of difficulty

- Choose to be peaceful in times of adversity

- Choose to be patient when our patience is tested

- Choose to be kind to those who are unkind

- Choose to be gentle when we’re tempted to be harsh

- Choose to be generous with our time and resources

- Choose to be faithful to prayer and our vocation in life

- Choose to live in self-control when temptation comes our way

No, we won’t be perfect; but the more we cooperate with God’s grace, the more the virtues will be alive in us.

1 Jesus, the very thought of thee 

with sweetness fills the breast; 

but sweeter far thy face to see, 

and in thy presence rest.

2 O hope of every contrite heart, 

O joy of all the meek, 

to those who fall, how kind thou art! 

How good to those who seek!

3 But what to those who find? Ah, this 

nor tongue nor pen can show; 

the love of Jesus, what it is, 

none but his loved ones know.

4 Jesus, our only joy be thou, 

as thou our prize wilt be; 

Jesus, be thou our glory now, 

and through eternity.

Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Translated by Edward Cassell (1814-1878)