St. Paul’s Letter to the Colossians which we begin reading today is one of the “prison letters,” letters written or dictated by St. Paul as he languished in chains. St. Paul was imprisoned several times during his lifetime. There is no indication in the letter of which imprisonment generated this letter.
Unlike many of the letters of St. Paul, this letter is addressed to a Christian community which had not had the benefit of a visit from St. Paul. Rather the Christian community in Colossae had been introduced to the Gospel through the missionary efforts of Epaphras, a disciple of St. Paul’s.
So imagine if you will how St. Paul must have felt as he hears of Colossae from his disciple. Though he is suffering in prison, he receives word of the development of faith in Colossae through the preaching of one of his disciples. Consider his words at the beginning of this letter in the light of his imprisonment. The joy and satisfaction that he is feeling when he hears this news is reflected in the hope and encouragement that he expresses in these opening lines: “We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love that you have for all the holy ones because of the hope reserved for you in heaven.” Teachers always enjoy hearing of the exploits of their former students, especially when their efforts are effective as Epaphras has been.
As he continues to write, St. Paul sends his encouragement to the community by telling them of the growth of the faith throughout the world. They are joining a movement, a way of life that is growing and bearing fruit in the whole world.
These words are meant for us as well. Sometimes we focus too much attention on all that is wrong in the world, the evil that rears its ugly head from time to time. However, like St. Paul, we can find hope in the fact that when evil seems to be conquering, we also witness a response from people of faith that gives us hope just as the imprisoned St. Paul was filled with hope when word reached him of Colossae.
As we offer thanks to God today, let us include in that thanksgiving the many people who are living out their faith in Jesus in so many different ways.
Fr. Lawrence Jagdfeld, O.F.M., Administrator