Faithfulness to the End

Paul writes his letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison. He realizes that this may be the end for him and that a painful death may be near. Looking not to contemporary slogans but to the biblical experience of Job, he engages in a very personal reflection about what death entails and how he should relate to it: What should be his attitudes? What should be his actions? What emerges is an approach to dying that we have a lot to learn from. Paul exhibits a contentment and joy in this letter that's rooted in two sources: Jesus Christ and the Philippians. How can we experience such peace and joy--not just in theory but in reality--as disciples of Christ and as modern-day Philippians?