25th Sunday In Ordinary Time

by Rev. Benny Kottarathil Antoney, OSB  |  09/20/2026  |  From the Clergy

“Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain” writes Paul to the Christians in Philippi. To understand the depth of these words we need to see it in context. Paul was in prison awaiting trial. There were two possibilities before him: he might be released, but he also might be executed. So Paul says, whatever happens to me, whether I live or whether or I die, the important thing is that Christ will be honored in my body. And his rationale for saying so is that to him to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

The Epistle to Diognetus is a Treatise written around 200 A.D. by an unknown author. The treatise was written in defense of Christianity in times of persecution. The work described Christians in these terms: “They reside in their respective countries, but only as aliens. They take part in everything as citizens and put up with everything as foreigners. Every foreign land is their home, and every home a foreign land. They find themselves in the flesh, but do not live according to the flesh” (Epistle to Diognetus 5:5.8, in Ancient Christian Writers. The Works of the Fathers in Translation, 139)

The apostles lived and died in such a manner. According to Church tradition, Matthew was slain with a sword, Mark was dragged through the streets till dead. Luke was hanged on an olive tree. James the Great was beheaded. James the Lesser was thrown from the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem and then beaten to death with a club. Philip was hanged. Andrew was bound to the cross from where he preached till he died. Thomas was run through a lance. Jude was shot to death with arrows. Simon the Zealot was crucified. Bartholomew was skinned alive and beheaded. Matthias was first stoned and then beheaded. Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was beheaded. Stephen was stoned to death…

We are reminded today of our common vocation to bear witness to Christ as the apostles and saints did. We should be living in the flesh but not according to the flesh. Thus, we glorify God with our lives, because for us life is Christ, and death is gain.