Called to Community

A Reflection for Thursday, March 26 by Rev. Alicia Vela Anderson

Lectionary reading for 03/26/2026: Psalm 31:9-16; 1 Samuel 16:11-13; Philippians 1:1-11 

Selected passage for reflection: Philippians 1:3-11

Read

Philippians 1:3-11, NRSVUE

I thank my God for every remembrance of you, always in every one of my prayers for all of you, praying with joy for your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I hold you in my heart, for all of you are my partners in God’s grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how I long for all of you with the tender affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

Reflect

This section of Paul’s letter to the Philippians has long been a favorite of mine. A phrase of it was written in a note of encouragement given to me upon my college graduation by my mentor: “Being confident of this, that the One who began a good work in you will continue.” Later, as I discovered the rest of the passage, it became a prayer over my students in my youth ministry. I quoted it so often that a group of students gave me a Christmas Ornament with the words “Carry On” painted on it as a call back to this passage. 

If we are confident that God began a good work in us as individuals, all we are doing is carrying on. Day by day, following the heart of God through our lives. Sounds easy, right? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I don’t need anyone else - just me and Jesus. 

I used to think it was that easy - God’s at work in me, I’m doing fine all on my own. That’s what happens when we are taught to read scripture as if it is written directly to us. But Paul’s writing to a community of people. He’s actually telling them that they are interconnected, which is crucial because that’s what can keep us going. Paul’s prayer is for the people of God to grow in their love so much that it overflows with knowledge and insight to determine what really matters.

While I can read all sorts of books and search the internet for more knowledge and insights, nothing will help me understand others' experiences more than proximity to them. To grasp the fullness of God, I need to be surrounded by those God created. I need to be connected to them in a way that their burdens become my burdens. 

What I’ve learned is that the more I connect myself to my community, the more my understanding of God grows. This time in our lives is too heavy for anyone to face alone. We are not meant to maintain our spiritual health solely through our own understanding. We have to do it in community with others, and hopefully with those who are different from us. 

I still find comfort in verse 6 of this passage - that we can be confident that God is still at work in us until the day of completion, but these days it’s a reminder that God continues to bring others into my life for me to learn from. The comfort has changed from “I can do it all” to “We can do things together.”

Respond 

Where are the places you are truly connected to others? Not places where you simply see others, but places where you listen to the lives of other people. How can you search out new spaces to learn from others? If you don’t have any, I encourage you to seek out somewhere you can invest some time in - a book club, a learning opportunity, or a local community group. 

If you are already in a space like this, what have you learned recently that has deepened your understanding of God? 

Rest 

Creator God, thank you that you do not give up on your creation. Thank you for all the ways you carry out your work through the imperfection of humanity. As we go about our week, looking for ways to further our connections to the communities we live in, nudge us out of our comfort zones so that we may know you more. Amen

About the Author 

Rev. Alicia Vela Anderson serves as a Spiritual Formation Coach at a nonprofit that builds on the strengths, skills, and potential of young moms. She is passionate about guiding others through discovering the beauty of God in their own stories and journeys. She lives in Chicago, IL, with her husband, where she enjoys exploring, reading, and living locally.