The

Philippians had heard that Paul was in prison. Paul wrote several of

his letters from a jail cell, chains clanking from his wrists as he

composed his epistles. But that did not stop up his love. “You are

in my heart,” Paul says, and he adds, in ­effect, “It doesn’t

matter whether I am in jail or where I am; my love for you is

expressed in every beating of my heart. I am not so focused on my own

problems that I can no longer think of you all.” It seems that the

only thing that really bothers Paul about being in prison is that he

can’t travel, can’t visit these dear Philippian sisters and

brothers in Christ.

Many

of us have met people who seem unable to see past their own troubles

and to think about the needs of others. Maybe they carry around old

grudges. Talk to old so-and-so for more than five minutes, for

instance, and you will hear all about how unfairly he got fired from

a job 25 years ago. But the person whose heart is aflame with the

love of Christ will always be focused on others and how best to show

God’s love to them. Jesus set the example for this when, even as he

hung dying on the cross, he asked a disciple to take care of his

mother (John 19:25-27).

This

is a marker of true, unconditional love. Paul had it for the

Philippians, and nothing could distract him from it.