Not entirely pure motives

Today's first reading (Philippians 1:18b-26) begins with the punch line at the end of a very interesting observation by St. Paul about his imprisonment.

I want you to know, brothers,
that my situation has turned out rather
to advance the gospel,
so that my imprisonment has become well known in Christ
throughout the whole praetorium and to all the rest,
and so that the majority of the brothers,
having taken encouragement in the Lord
from my imprisonment,
dare more than ever to proclaim the word fearlessly.

Of course, some preach Christ from envy and rivalry,
others from good will.

The latter act out of love,
aware that I am here for the defense of the gospel;
the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition,
not from pure motives,
thinking that they will cause me trouble
in my imprisonment.

What difference does it make,
as long as in every way,
whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is being proclaimed?

And in that I rejoice.

Many people find the less-than-pure motives of some Christian preachers to be a stumbling block, but St. Paul does not: not even when these less-than-pure motives are directed at him personally.

His focus is on the message of Christ.

Yes, motives could be better - and we should all strive for greater purity and selflessness in what we do for Christ (our impure hearts cannot escape the scrutiny of God) - but the message of Christ is desperately needed in this world of violence, darkness, and selfish noise.

We are called to perfection and we strive for perfection, but none of us on this earth have yet attained perfection.

Even so, Christ still calls us - imperfect instruments though we are - to proclaim his message and teach all nations.

We must proclaim the truth of Christ, even as we repent our sins and seek to grow in God’s grace, for the message is the Lord's and he alone is the Holy One.

Quoniam tu solus Sanctus.
Tu solus Dominus,
Tu solus Altissimus,
Jesu Christe,
Cum Sancto Spíritu
in gloria Dei Patris.
Amen.