WPV Advent Workshop Phil 4:4-7(Third Sunday)

Phil 4:4-7 is a good reading for Advent. For Advent 3, it starts with the key word for this Sunday, rejoice, as we turn to the Incarnation, the first Advent and away from the cosmic  2nd Advent.

Let’s just take the verse, the Lord is near. It could be taken to mean near in time, but it could also mean near in locale. Indeed with the Incarnation and the indwelling spirit, we could say that the presence of the Lord is as near as our next breath.We then have no need for a second Advent as it is present with us in our baptismal life.

This reading underscores the shift in readings as Gaudete Sunday, with its word, rejoice.

eggus can be understood spatially or temporally (see Ps. 145:18).. Spatially, it means “near” or “close at hand.” If this is true, then “near” here signifies that the Lord is close to or present with the Philippians. Let’s just take the verse, the Lord is near. It could be taken to mean near in time, but it could also mean near in locale. Indeed with the Incarnation and the indwelling spirit, we could say that the presence of the Lord is as near as our next breath.We then have no need for a second Advent as it is present with us in our baptismal life.

Gentleness-epieikes, is associated with  being reasonable, mild, tolerant, “not insisting on every right of letter of law or custom.”  being considerate, being magnanimous. It is more than a disposition; it is an action, a determination to so act. Elsewhere, Paul uses the word epieikes (“gentleness”) to describe Christ (2 Corinthians 10:1). It is paired with prautes, which is translated “meekness” but is better defined as “the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance.” (Hearon, Working Preacher [The Gentleman] is always truthful and sincere ; will not agree for the sake of complaisance or out of weakness ; will not pass over that of which he disapproves. He has a clear soul, and a fearless, straightforward tongue. On the other hand, he is not blunt and rude. His truth is courteous ; his courtesy, truthful ; never a humbug, yet, where he truthfully can, he prefers to say pleasant things. [The Rev. John R. Vernon, "The Grand Old Name of Gentleman-see also gentile

huperecho- to govern, have authority; to be better than, transcend; (n.) surpassing greatness: to hold above;, intrans. to stand out above, to overtop; met. to surpass, excel, ὑπερέχον, excellence, preeminence, to be higher, superior/  In other words, peace has power over, excels, and surpasses mental and emotional processes. Peace, after all, is God’s shalom—wholeness, well-being, security, restoration, and goodness. 

The word anxiety  (v.6) certainly fits all of the rushing about this season and its demands on time and money. Merimnao=to worry, have anxiety, be concerned; to give careful thought; to be preoccupied; to feel an interest in, Phil. 2:20

The issue of prayer as an Advent discipline, the chief exercise of faith, as Calvin said jumps up here. Why separate prayer and supplication here?  Is this a form of the expression why pray when you can worry? How will you respond to the immediate thought that prayer has not produced a peace that surpasses understanding?